Optical fiber illumination systems and methods
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorStephan Lvovich Logunov
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Abstract
A light-diffusing optical fiber with a light-guiding core having a plurality of elongated glass rods each oriented substantially parallel with each other and with the length of the optical fiber. The fiber also includes a cladding surrounding the glass core, the cladding having a refractive index similar to, or lower than, a refractive index of the glass core. The light-guiding core includes a plurality of gaps formed between the plurality of elongated glass rods, the plurality of gaps scattering light away from the light-guiding core and through the cladding.
Claims20
A light-diffusing optical fiber comprising:
- a light-guiding core comprising a plurality of elongated glass rods each oriented substantially parallel with each other and with the length of the optical fiber;
- a cladding surrounding said light-guiding core, the cladding comprising a refractive index similar to, or lower than, a refractive index of the light-guiding core;
- wherein the light-guiding core further comprises a plurality of gaps formed between the plurality of elongated glass rods, the plurality of gaps scattering light away from the light-guiding core and through the cladding.
An illumination system, comprising:
- a light source configured to generate light;
- at least one light-diffusing optical fiber comprising:
- (i) a light-guiding core having a plurality of elongated glass rods each oriented substantially parallel with each other and with the length of the light-diffusing optical fiber;
- (ii) a cladding surrounding said light-guiding core, the cladding comprising a refractive index similar to, or lower than, a refractive index of the light-guiding core, wherein the light-guiding core further comprises a plurality of gaps formed between the plurality of elongated glass rods, the plurality of gaps scattering light away from the light-guiding core and through the cladding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.