Illumination devices and optical fibres for use therein
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsRoger H. Appeldorn, Alan G. Hulme-Lowe, Michael C. Lea
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical fibre has a light emitting region. In the light emitting region are reflecting surfaces, at least one of which has a cross sectional area less than that of the fibre. Light striking the reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of the fibre.
Claims21
An illumination device comprising an illumination device for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibre having a light emitting region, said light emitting region comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending into said fibre and arranged such that a portion of light propagating along said fibre and impinging upon said surfaces will be reflected out of said fibre by total internal reflection through a side wail thereof, at least one of said reflecting surfaces having a cross-sectional area less than that of said fibre, said reflecting surfaces varying in cross-sectional area and/or spacing such that light is emitted over said light emitting region substantially uniformly.
An illumination device comprising an illumination device for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibre having a light emitting region, said light emitting region comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending into said fibre and arranged such that a portion of light propagating along said fibre and impinging upon said surfaces will be reflected out of said fibre by total internal reflection through a side wall thereof, said reflecting surfaces having cross-sectional areas that vary such that the amount of light reflected out of said fibre by each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially equal.
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of said reflecting surfaces increases as distance along said fibres increases in said preselected direction.
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of said reflecting surfaces varies such that the amount of light reflected out of each fibre by each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially equal.
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of the said reflecting surfaces and/or the spacing between said reflecting surfaces varies such that the light emitted over said light emitting region is substantially uniform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.