# US 5,700,077 A · Line light source including fluorescent colorant

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- Number: US 5,700,077 A
- Document ID: US5700077A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/474,726
- Filed: 1995-06-07
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1995-03-23
- Assignees: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
- Inventors: John F. Dreyer, Jr.; Thomas I. Bradshaw; David M. Burns; Lee A. Pavelka; Bruce D. Orensteen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700077A

## CPC

- G02B 6/0096: {the lights guides being of the hollow type}
- G02B 6/0003: {the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A line light source includes point light source and a light distribution assembly for transporting light from the point source. A fluorescent colorant is included in the light distribution assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A line light source comprising:
a light source;
a light distribution assembly optically coupled to said light source and including:
(a) a hollow, tubular housing having a first end and a second end and having a length extending along a major axis of said housing, at least a portion of said housing comprising a substantially optically transparent material; and
(b) a light conduit disposed substantially entirely within and extending along at least a portion of the length of said housing, said light conduit consisting essentially of a thin film of a totally internally reflecting material,
wherein at least one of the tubular housing and the light conduit comprises a polymeric matrix, and a fluorescent colorant, and wherein the fluorescent colorant contains a dye selected from the group of dyes consisting of thioxanthone, perylene imide and thioindigoid compounds and wherein the fluorescent colorant is present in an amount sufficient generate fluorescent light detectable to the naked eye in response to ambient daytime lighting conditions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A line light source according to claim 1, wherein:
said at least one of the tubular housing and light conduit comprises a fluorescent colorant in a concentration of between 0.01 percent by weight and 2.00 percent by weight.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A line light source according to claim 1, wherein:
said at least one of the tubular housing and light conduit comprises a fluorescent colorant in a concentration of between 0.10 percent by weight and 0.50 percent by weight.

### Claim 4

A line light source comprising:
a light source;
a light distribution assembly optically coupled to said light source and including:
(a) a hollow, tubular housing having a first end and a second end and having a length extending along a major axis of said housing, at least a portion of said housing comprising a substantially optically transparent material;
(b) a light conduit disposed substantially entirely within and extending along at least a portion of the length of said housing, said light conduit consisting essentially of a thin film of a totally internally reflecting material;
wherein at least one of the tubular housing and the light conduit comprises a polymeric matrix, a colorant, and hindered amine light stabilizer, and wherein the colorant contains a dye selected from the group of dyes consisting of thioxanthone, perylene imide and thioindigoid compounds and the polymeric matrix comprises polycarbonate, and wherein the fluorescent colorant is present in an amount sufficient to generate fluorescent light detectable to the naked eye in response to ambient daytime lighting conditions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A line light source according to claim 4, wherein:
at least one of said tubular housing and said light conduit comprises a fluorescent colorant in a concentration of between 0.01 percent by weight and 2.00 percent by weight.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A line light source according to claim 4, wherein:
at least one of said tubular housing and said light conduit comprises a fluorescent colorant in a concentration of between 0.10 percent by weight and 0.50 percent by weight.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A line light source according to claim 4, wherein:
at least one of said tubular housing and said light conduit comprises a hindered amine light stabilizer in a concentration of between 0.050 percent by weight and 1.00 percent by weight.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

A line light source according to claim 4, wherein:
at least one of said tubular housing and said light conduit comprises a hindered amine light stabilizer in a concentration of between 0.10 percent by weight and 0.75 percent by weight.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

A line light source according to claim 4, wherein:
at least one of said tubular housing and said light conduit comprises a hindered amine light stabilizer in a concentration of between 0.10 percent by weight and 0.50 percent by weight.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

A line light source according to claim 4, wherein:
said hindered amine light stabilizer comprises 2,2,6,6 tetraalkyl piperidine compounds.