Optical fiber light source with composite overcoating structure
AssigneeL.E.S.S. Ltd
InventorYann Tissot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solid body made of an inactive, light transmissive material has embedded therein an optical fiber having a lengthwise segment in which a scattering structure is formed that is to redirect primary propagating light sideways out of the fiber. An active photoluminescent layer integrated in the optical fiber is to wavelength-convert the primary light into secondary light. The solid body is generally cylindrical but without rotational symmetry about the center longitudinal axis of the fiber. A portion of the outer side surface of the body is curved and is covered by an external reflector, while another portion of the outer side surface is uncovered by the reflector in order for the secondary light to emerge. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
Claims20
A lighting structure comprising:
- a solid body that comprises a top surface and a side surface, wherein the solid body is made of an inactive, light transmissive material;
- an optical fiber that is at least partially inside the solid body;
- a light reflective layer that conforms to and is in contact with at least a portion of the side surface;
- and
- a base that comprises a first side that at least partially conforms to and is in contact with the light reflective layer such that the light reflective layer is disposed between the solid body and the base, and a second side that has a polygonal cross-sectional shape,
- wherein light emitted from the optical fiber passes through the solid body and out of the top surface of the solid body.
A composite structure, comprising:
- an overcoating formed on an optical fiber, having an inactive light transmissive material that does not wavelength-convert and is formed at least partially on an outer-side surface of the optical fiber;
- a base that comprises a first side that couples to at least a portion of the overcoating, and a second side, wherein the first side has a curved shape, and the second side has a polygonal shape;
- and
- a reflective layer that is disposed between the overcoating and the first side of the base.
A composite structure, comprising:
- an optical fiber having an active photoluminescent layer integrated on the optical fiber;
- an overcoating formed on the optical fiber, having 1) an inactive light transmissive portion that does not wavelength-convert in which at least a portion of the optical fiber is positioned inside, and 2) a curved light reflective layer that is formed on and conforms to an outer side surface of the inactive light transmissive portion except for an outer top surface through which light emitted by the optical fiber emerges;
- and
- a base that comprises a plurality of sides, wherein the overcoating is coupled to one side of the plurality of sides such that the curved light reflective layer is disposed between the one side and the inactive light transmissive portion, and a remainder of the plurality of sides that form at least a partial polygonal shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.