Illumination device for simulation of neon lighting
Assigneei Light Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMark Joseph Cleaver, Eric Olav Eriksson, George R. Hulse
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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 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.
Drawings
Claims40
An illumination device for simulating neon lighting comprising
- a substantially rod-like waveguide having a predetermined length with a lateral light receiving surface and a lateral curved light emitting surface having a predetermined circumferential width, said waveguide being comprised of a material that preferentially scatters light entering said light receiving surface such that a light intensity pattern exiting said light emitting surface has a major axis extending along said predetermined length and
- an elongated light source extending along and positioned adjacent said light receiving surface and spaced from said light emitting surface a distance sufficient to cause said light intensity pattern to have a minor axis with a length extending substantially the entire circumferential width of said light emitting surface.
An illumination device comprising
- (a) an optical waveguide having a predetermined length and a lateral surface and defining a housing extending substantially the entire predetermined length, said waveguide being fabricated of a material capable of being flexed;
- (b) a string of spaced point light sources positioned within said housing and extending along the length thereof;
- (c) an elongated circuit board positioned within said housing and electrically connected to said point light sources.
An illumination device for simulating neon lighting comprising
- a first light transmitting member of a predetermined length comprised of waveguide material having a substantially curved front surface, said waveguide material preferentially scattering light entering a first lateral surface so that light emitted by a second lateral surface has a light distribution pattern skewed along said length with light scattering characteristics;
- a housing adjacent said waveguide with spaced side walls abutting said first lateral surface and defining a volume extending along said predetermined length of said first light transmitting member, said side walls provided with a light reflecting interior surface and a light absorbing exterior surface;
- a multiplicity of spaced point light sources housed within said volume and extending along said predetermined length, said spaced light sources positioned a distance from said second lateral surface so as to minimize the viewing of localized regions of high light intensity within said light distribution pattern. to have uniform along distribution providing transmission of a uniform light distribution pattern;
- and
- an electrical source connecting member positioned within said volume and connected to said point light sources.
A method of making an illumination device capable of simulating neon lighting comprising the steps of
- forming a rod with a predetermined length and a pair of lateral surfaces from material having optical waveguide properties with preferential light scattering characteristics such that light entering a first of said lateral surfaces is caused to form an 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 side walls defining a volume in a connected relationship with said first lateral surface;
- bending said rod and housing into a desired shaped;
- positioning a plurality of spaced point light sources connected to a flexible electrical connecting member within said volume between said side walls;
- and
- filling said volume with potting material transmitting light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.