Light fiber comprising continuous outer cladding and method of making
First Claim
1. A light fiber comprising:
- (a) an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end;
(b) a light-emitting region directing light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion of the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the light-emitting region comprising at least one optical element; and
(c) a continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extending over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements.
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Abstract
Light fibers comprising: (a) an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end; (b) a light-emitting region directing light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the light-emitting region comprising at least one optical element; and (c) a continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extending over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements. Methods of making the light fibers using an embossing process are also reported.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A light fiber comprising:
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(a) an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end;
(b) a light-emitting region directing light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion of the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the light-emitting region comprising at least one optical element; and
(c) a continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extending over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of making a light fiber having a light-emitting region comprising at least one optical element comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a light fiber comprising an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end;
(b) providing an embossing tool having at least one embossing element; and
(c) embossing the light fiber by bringing into contact at least one embossing element of the embossing tool with the lateral surface of the light fiber and apply pressure such that the embossing element indents the central core of the light fiber thereby creating an optical element;
wherein after the embossing step the cladding layer remains as a continuous layer extending over the lateral surface of the core and the optical element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification