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US 8,998,471 B2Granted
Lighting units having light-diffusing optical fiber
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorMichael Lucien Genier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lighting units include a light source, a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly, and a support substrate. The light-diffusing optical fiber assembly includes a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion surrounded by a jacket and a splayed portion free from the jacket. The plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scatter light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source. The plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are structurally coupled to the support substrate.
Claims37
A lighting unit comprising:
- a light source;
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion surrounded by a jacket and a splayed portion free from the jacket, the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source, each of said fibers comprising a core with a plurality of light scattering sites included therein;
- and
- a support substrate, wherein the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are structurally coupled to the support substrate.
1 more element
A lighting unit comprising:
- a light source;
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion surrounded by a jacket and a splayed portion free from the jacket, the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source;
- and
- a support substrate, wherein the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are structurally coupled to the support substrate further comprising a light shaping element, wherein the light shaping element comprises a collimating element.
1 more element
A lighting unit comprising:
- a light source;
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion surrounded by a jacket and a splayed portion free from the jacket, the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source;
- and
- a support substrate, wherein the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are structurally coupled to the support substrate further comprising a light shaping element, further comprising a light shaping element, wherein the light shaping element comprises a diverging lens.
1 more element
A lighting unit comprising:
- a light source;
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion surrounded by a jacket and a splayed portion free from the jacket, the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source;
- and
- a support substrate, wherein the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are structurally coupled to the support substrate further comprising a light shaping element, further comprising a light shaping element wherein the light shaping element comprises a concentrating lens.
1 more element
A lighting unit comprising:
- a light source;
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion surrounded by a jacket and a splayed portion free from the jacket, the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source;
- and
- a support substrate, wherein the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are structurally coupled to the support substrate;
- and
- a light shaping element, wherein the light shaping element comprises a diffusing lens.
3 more elements
A lighting unit comprising:
- a light source;
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion and a splayed portion, the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source, said light-diffusing optical fibers comprising a light scattering region, the light scattering region including a light scattering material, said light scattering material comprising at least one of:
- a solid particle, a liquid droplet, or a gas bubble, or combination thereof, sized to scatter light propagating through said fiber region;
- and
- a support substrate, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are embedded within the support substrate.
2 more elements
A lighting unit comprising;
- a light source;
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion and a splayed portion, the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source;
- and
- a support substrate comprising a light shaping element, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are embedded within the support substrate, wherein the light shaping element comprises at least one of a collimating element, a diverging lens, a concentrating lens, or a diffusing lens.
1 more element
A lighting unit comprising:
- a light source;
- and
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion and a splayed portion, said light-diffusing optical fibers each having a core with a plurality of light scatterers, the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source;
- wherein a splayed packing ratio evaluated at a splayed circumscribing diameter that surrounds the light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion comparing an area of the collective light-diffusing optical fibers to an area of the splayed circumscribing diameter is greater than a bundled packing ratio evaluated at a bundled diameter circumscribing the light-diffusing optical fibers in the bundled portion comparing the area of the collective light-diffusing optical fibers to an area of the bundled circumscribing diameter.
1 more element
A lighting unit comprising:
- a light source;
- a light-diffusing optical fiber assembly comprising a plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers that are arranged in a bundled portion surrounded by a jacket and a splayed portion free from the jacket, said light-diffusing optical fibers further comprising a light scattering layer, the light scattering layer comprising a light scattering material, said light scattering material comprising at least one of:
- a solid particle, a liquid droplet, or a gas bubble, or combination thereof, sized to scatter light propagating through said layer,
- the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers in the splayed portion scattering light optically coupled into the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers from the light source;
- and
- a support substrate, wherein the plurality of light-diffusing optical fibers within the splayed portion are structurally coupled to the support substrate.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.