Illumination device for simulation of neon lighting
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of making an illumination device capable of simulating neon lighting, comprising the steps of:
- forming an essentially solid rod with a predetermined length and a pair of lateral surfaces from material having optical waveguide and light scattering properties such that light entering a first of said lateral surfaces is caused to form an essentially elliptically shaped light intensity pattern that has a major axis in a direction substantially parallel to said predetermined length;
placing a housing having a pair of spaced walls defining a volume in connected relationship with said first lateral surface;
bending said rod and said housing into a desired shape;
positioning a plurality of spaced point light sources connected to a flexible electrical connecting member within said volume between said side walls; and
essentially filling said volume with a potting material transmitting light.
7 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Reexaminations
Accused Products
Abstract
An illumination device for simulating neon lighting comprising a plurality of space point light sources positioned adjacent a lateral light receiving surface of a substantially rod-like waveguide. The waveguide is made of a material that preferentially scatters light entering the light receiving surface such that the light intensity pattern exiting a lateral light emitting surface of the waveguide has a substantially uniform light intensity pattern.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A method of making an illumination device capable of simulating neon lighting, comprising the steps of:
-
forming an essentially solid rod with a predetermined length and a pair of lateral surfaces from material having optical waveguide and light scattering properties such that light entering a first of said lateral surfaces is caused to form an essentially elliptically shaped light intensity pattern that has a major axis in a direction substantially parallel to said predetermined length;
placing a housing having a pair of spaced walls defining a volume in connected relationship with said first lateral surface;
bending said rod and said housing into a desired shape;
positioning a plurality of spaced point light sources connected to a flexible electrical connecting member within said volume between said side walls; and
essentially filling said volume with a potting material transmitting light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising:
-
a substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length with a lateral light receiving surface and a lateral curved light emitting surface having a predetermined circumferential width, said member being comprised of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties tat preferentially scatters light entering said light receiving surface into an elongated light intensity pattern on said light emitting surface with a major axis extending along said predetermined length;
an elongated light source extending along and positioned adjacent said light receiving surface and spaced from said light emitting surface a sufficient distance to allow said light intensity pattern on said emitting surface to have a minor axis extending substantially the entire circumferential width of said light emitting surface;
a housing in which said light source is positioned, said housing extending along said light receiving surface and having a pair of side walls, each with an interior light reflecting surface and an exterior light absorbing surface; and
an electric connecting member positioned within said housing and adapted to connect said light source to a remote power source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising:
-
a light transmitting member of a predetermined length having a substantially curved front surface and a light receiving lateral surface, said member being comprised of a material tat has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties that preferentially scatters light entering said light receiving surface into an elongated light intensity pattern on said light emitting surface with a major axis extending along said predetermined length;
a housing having spaced side walls abutting said light receiving lateral surface and defining a volume extending along said predetermined length of said light transmitting member, said side walls having light reflecting interior surfaces and a light absorbing exterior surfaces; and
a multiplicity of spaced point light sources housed within said volume and extending along said predetermined length, said spaced point light sources positioned a distance from said curved front surface sufficient to allow a light intensity pattern from each of said point light sources to overlap neighboring light intensity patterns so that the light intensity pattern collectively emitted from said front surface appears uniform. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification