Method for optically marking an elongated indication path and devices using same

• US 6,592,245 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1999
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atlantium Lasers Limited
• Original Assignee: Atlantium Lasers Limited
• Inventors: Tribelsky, Zamir, Ende, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): DelGizzi, Ronald E.
• Application Number:
  US09/355,892
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 362/551, 362/552, 362/583, 362/559, 362/259, 385/901, 385/93, 385/33, 385/37
• US Class Current: 362/551
• CPC Class Codes: B64B 1/50 Captive balloons
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/007 Helicopter portable landing pads
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/18 Visual or acoustic landing aids
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/20 Use of light guides, e.g. fibre-optic devices
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/669 for fastening to safety barriers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/023 Chinese lanterns; Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• 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: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for optically marking an elongated indication path. This method is comprised of supporting an optic sieve (1) along an exposed indication path, and aligning an end (4) of the optic sieve (1) (or networks of sections of optic sieves) with a light source (2) (or light socket harnessing the collective outputs of a plurality of light sources). The optic sieve (1) in the context of the present invention is characterised by having at least one side emitting optic fiber within a flexible semi opaque holographically grooved sleeve. The present invention also relates to devices having optically marked elongated indication paths according to the method of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of optically marking an elongated indication path, comprising the steps of:

supporting a light guide along the indication path; and

aligning an end of said light guide with at least one light source;

wherein said light guide comprises at least one side-emitting optic fiber within a flexible semi-opaque sleeve, the semi-opaque sleeve is holographically grooved to enable a predetermined degree of transparency to light being transmitted by said at least one side-emitting optic fiber.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the semi-opaque sleeve is an ultra-violet filter for protecting observers'"'"' eyes from UV radiation coming from the light source and for protecting said at least one fiber from UV radiation in sun light.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is impermeable to water.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said aligning comprises:

coupling the light guide to the light source through an integrated light socket; and

controlling the light socket by a computer.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light source is polychromatic.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said controlling includes selectively coupling, by the light socket, one or more color components of light generated by the light source to said end of the light guide.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light sources comprises a laser.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light sources is pulsed more than about 16 times per second, for providing the appearance of continuous illumination.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light sources is pulsed less than 16 times per second, for providing the appearance of flashing or warning light.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indication path is embedded in a road surface.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indication path is along a road side barrier.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indication path is suspended from at least two vertical columns.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indication path is embedded in or near a retro reflective surface.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the indication path is an air transport marker.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the marker is parallel to an airport runway.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the marker illuminates the height or shape of a tall structure.

17. A device having an optically marked elongated indication path for use in the method according to claim 1, comprising an indication path support, at least one exposed light guide (1) supported along the indication path, and a light source, or the collective output of a plurality of light sources (2), through a light socket (7) is aligned with an end of said light guide, wherein said light socket is an integrated light input and output active component which allows harnessing of light from various light sources simultaneously and controlling over the distribution of light into the output light guide and wherein said light guide is characterized by having at least one side emitting optic fiber within a flexible semi opaque sleeve wherein the semi-opaque sleeve is holographically grooved to enable a predetermined selective transparency with respect to light wavelength and with respect to viewing angle.

18. A device according to claims 17 wherein a light socket input/s can modulate a light socket output/s for adequate optical marking or illumination of an elongated indication path.

19. A device according to claims 17 wherein the light socket collective optical throughput or its harnessing light from a plurality of light sources connected to it, facilitate a high redundancy level of light sources increasing the durability and/or reliability of optical marking or illumination of an elongated indication path.

20. A device according to claims 17 wherein the light socket accommodate an interchangeable cartridge with required connectors, lenses, beam expanders, beam splitters, beam expanding telescope/s, alignments shunts, refractive optics &

crystals, wave division multiplexes, AID converter/s, a GPS module, a transceiver antenna, an interlock circuits, a timer, a memory chip or module, a selection of sensors or imaging optics, micro positioners, acousto-optical shutter, shutter/s, spectrum analyze, dimmer.

21. A device according to claim 20 wherein the light socket'"'"'s interchangeable cartridge provide a centralized platform for connecting light sources or fiber devices from different manufacturers providing a one stop universal connection light socket.

22. A device according to claim 17 wherein light from a plurality of light sources is harnessed or mixed or distributed by an integrated light socket to be projected at the end of raised or supported side emitting light guide for spot light type illumination of a predetermined radius or topographic area of the optically marked elongated indication path.

23. A device according to claim 17 wherein the light socket is powered by a solar panel/s or photo-voltaic cells recharging on board batteries during the day for controlled operation or activation or synchronization or a combination thereof of the light sources connected to it during the night.

24. A device according to claims 17 wherein the light socket enclosure is transparent or partially transparent for glowing while light is passing through it for easy identifying or locating at night or when dark.

25. A device according to claim 17 wherein at least one side emitting optical fiber is integrally enclosed within a flexible semi opaque sleeve.

26. A device according to claim 17 wherein the light guide contains a strength member parallel to the optic fiber and characterized by said member being coated with a reflective substance.

27. A device according to claim 17 wherein the sleeve profile has a flat side.

28. A device according to claim 17 wherein the semi opaque sleeve has sections of high transparency alternating with sections of low transparency.

29. A device according to claim 28 wherein the alternating of sections is according to measured units corresponding to the distances between measurement marking on a workman'"'"'s measuring tape.

30. A device according to claim 28 wherein regions of high transparency are etched or holographically grooved or otherwise embedded within areas of low transparency sections.

31. A device according to claim 30 wherein the regions comprise recognizable shapes including letters, numbers, or designs.

32. A device according to claim 17 wherein the light guide contains a single graded index side emitting optical fiber, and said graded index fiber has a cross section diameter of about between one half millimeter and 1800 millimeters.

33. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication path support is a road sign or signal.

34. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication path support is a horizontal traffic or pedestrian barrier.

35. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication path support is the body or appendage of a transportation vehicle, selected from balloon, bicycle, car, helicopter, motorcycle, plane, trailer, train, truck, or ship.

36. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication path support is an environmental optical wind propeller/s.

37. A device according to claim 36 wherein the wings of an environmental optical wind propeller are coated or painted or covered by reflective materials for highlighting text or message when the wings are turning at sufficient speed (when there is wind).

38. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication path support is a cable.

39. A device according to claim 38 wherein at least one exposed light guide is supported along the cable, by wrapping or twisting around the cable, or by being inserted into the cable during the production of the cable.

40. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication support is a building member including a post, a beam, a floor, a wall, a ceiling, a door frame, or a window frame, a road barriers, fences, a bottom of a pond or lake or sea, water surface when floating or suspending in water or liquids.

41. A device according to claim 9 wherein the pulse rate of the optical marking is selected for use as an optical signaling metronome providing chromatic optical marking of time domain beats, accents or rhythm or bars or frames or time markers or a combination thereof for deaf practicing, performing or recording artists.

42. A device according to claim 9 wherein the pulse rate is selected for use as an optical signaling metronome for silent optical beat signaling eliminating cross-talk between adjacent channels on a multi-track recording machines or during high quality direct to disk recording procedures.

43. A device according to claim 9 wherein an optical signaling metronome is used in large halls, corridors or predetermined sections or predetermined topographic environmental areas for synchronized chromatic time indication along an elongated indication path providing queues to groups of people such as an orchestra or task force.

44. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication path support is an edge or a surface of an appliance, a tool, or a module of furniture.

45. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication path support is fabric, or a thin film.

46. A device according to claim 17 wherein the indication path support is an article made from metal, wood, plastic, or any combination thereof.

47. A device according to claim 44 wherein the light guide is embedded into the article during said article'"'"'s fabrication.

48. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pulse rate of said at least one light source is selected so as to provide, by the optically marked indication path being used as an optical metronome, 360 degree chromatic optical time marking of the elongated indication path which is distributed in computerized multimedia platforms or stations.

49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising:

providing a plurality of devices using or conforming to a time protocol; and

providing a plurality of optical sensors for capturing, translating and providing triggering signals to the devices from the optical marking pulsed illumination of the elongated indication path, thereby synchronizing the devices by the optical metronome.

50. A device according to claims 17 wherein the light source is a micro wave fiber lamp connected through the light socket from about 400 nm to about 700 nm for optical marking and/or illumination of an elongated indication path.

51. A device according to claims 17 wherein the micro wave fiber lamp optical distribution or optical signature/s or intensity or dimmer is controlled by the audio frequency of the on board isolated active sound membrane.

52. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one light source comprises a plurality of light sources having a collective output being coupled to a light socket.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the light socket is a light input and output active component which allows harnessing of light from the light sources simultaneously, and controlling distribution of the light to said end of the light guide.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the light is visible.

55. The method of claim 1, wherein the semi-opaque sleeve is holographically grooved so as to allow the light of a predetermined wavelength to escape said light guide at a predetermined angle.