Method and apparatus for directing light around an obstacle using an optical waveguide for uniform lighting of a cylindrical cavity

• US 8,132,948 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Owen, Edward C., Ikeda, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/253,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20100097820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 362/109, 362/551, 362/555, 362/558, 362/26, 362/33, 385/14
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

A method and apparatus for directing light from a light source along a trajectory to avoid particular obstacles and provide uniform illumination of a surface having a particular geometry such as a cylindrical geometry is described. The surface may enclose components such as PCBs that provide particular functionality that operate as obstacles to a light beam.

Claims

1. An apparatus for guiding light to avoid an obstacle in order to uniformly light a cylindrical surface enclosing the obstacle comprising:

an optical wave guide arranged inside the cylindrical surface, the optical wave guide comprising an inner portion, the inner portion comprised of a material having a first index of refraction and a textured outer portion having a second index of refraction, wherein the optical wave guide comprises polycarbonate material and is configured in an aspherical form.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the obstacle is a printed circuit board (“

PCB”

).

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the optical wave guide is arranged to receive light from a light source using a direct input coupling geometry.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical surface is opaque.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the cylindrical surface includes at least one portion that is removed, the removed portion providing a conduit for light to escape from the cylindrical surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a second cylindrical surface that is clear.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second cylindrical surface is arranged inside the cylindrical surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second cylindrical surface is overmolded.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the PCB comprises at least an antenna for receiving radio frequency signals.

10. A method for guiding light to avoid an obstacle and uniformly light a cylindrical surface enclosing the obstacle comprising:

arranging an optical wave guide inside the cylindrical surface, wherein the optical wave guide comprises polycarbonate material and an inner portion, the inner portion comprised of a material having a first index of refraction and a textured outer portion having a second index of refraction, wherein the optical wave guide is configured in an aspherical form.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the obstacle is a printed circuit board (“

PCB”

).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the optical wave guide is arranged to direct light so that it avoids the PCB.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical surface is opaque.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the cylindrical surface includes at least one portion that is removed, the removed portion providing a conduit for light to escape from the cylindrical surface.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising a second cylindrical surface that is clear.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second cylindrical surface is arranged inside the cylindrical surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second cylindrical surface is overmolded.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the PCB comprises at least an antenna for receiving radio frequency signals.

19. A lighted entertainment device, comprising:

a first cylindrical member, wherein the first cylindrical member comprises a material that transmits light;

a second cylindrical member, wherein the second cylindrical member comprises a material that does not transmit light, wherein the opaque member includes a surface having at least one portion removed to form a respective window;

wherein the second cylindrical member is arranged to be inside the first cylindrical member;

a PCB comprising an antenna for receiving an RF signal;

a first LED (“

Light Emitting Diode”

);

a second LED;

a first optical wave guide comprising polycarbonate material arranged inside the cylindrical surface, the first optical wave guide further comprising an inner portion, the inner portion comprising a material having a first index of refraction, the first optical wave guide further comprising a textured outer portion having a second index of refraction, wherein the optical wave guide is configured in an aspherical form, wherein the first LED light source is arranged so that it directs light into the first optical wave guide using a direct input coupling geometry;

a second optical wave guide arranged inside the cylindrical surface, the second optical wave guide comprising an inner portion, the inner portion comprising a material having a first index of refraction, the second optical wave guide further comprising a textured outer portion having a second index of refraction, wherein the optical wave guide is configured in an aspherical form, wherein the second LED light source is arranged so that it directs light into the second optical wave guide using a direct input coupling geometry;

wherein the first and second optical wave guides are arranged to direct light around the PCB.

20. The lighted entertainment device of claim 19, wherein the lighted entertainment device is utilized in a video game environment as a controller to communicate with a base station via the antenna, wherein signals received from the base station control the first and second LEDs.