Illumination – Light fiber – rod – or pipe – With optical fiber bundle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-20
2001-05-22
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light fiber, rod, or pipe
With optical fiber bundle
C362S558000, C362S559000, C362S560000, C385S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234656
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to luminaires, and more particularly, to a fiber optic luminaire adaptable to many different configurations and having a controlled light distribution.
2. Description of the Related Art
Light conducting, light shaping and light distribution structures are known. For example, it is known to couple light energy along a fiber optic cable from a light source to a luminaire. The light source provides a source of light energy, and the luminaire is constructed to distribute the light energy with a desired intensity and in a desired pattern. The fiber optic cable provides a conduit for transporting the light energy from the light source to the luminaire. It is also known to provide light distributing fiber optic cable. Such fiber optic cable is adapted to scatter light energy outwardly from its surface as the light energy is coupled along the length of the fiber. Because these fibers scatter the light energy there is little or no control of the light energy distribution. Hence, the intensity of the light distribution varies substantially along the length of the fiber.
Light pipes too are devices that find application in light distribution applications. A light pipe is typically arranged to couple light energy from a light source along its structure. Additionally, the light pipe is arranged to distribute the light energy from its structure in a desired pattern. In this manner the light pipe acts both as the conduit and as the luminaire. Light pipes are typically adapted for a particular light distribution application. For example, a light pipe is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,946 for providing backlighting to a liquid crystal display (LCD). Similar arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,295,048; 5,394,255; 5,390,276; 5,594,830; 5,600,455 and 5,600,462. Another example of a light pipe application is instrument cluster lighting in an automobile.
In the light pipe arrangement shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,946 a planar faceted back surface is used to reflect light energy, substantially uniformly, through a planar top surface. The other of the above-referenced patents show similar arrangements for coupling and distributing light energy from a light source into a planar pattern for providing LCD backlighting. Substantial improvements to the concepts shown in these patents are disclosed and described in commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/601,133 entitled “Apparatus for LCD Backlighting” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/782,962 entitled “Apparatus for LCD Backlighting”, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. Still, all of these arrangements have generally been limited to planar light distribution applications.
What is needed then is a luminaire device offering greater flexibility in its construction and configuration while providing precise light distribution.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fiber optic luminaire includes an optic fiber having an outer surface, a length and a light entrance surface. A light source provides a source of light energy and is disposed adjacent the entrance surface. Light rays from the light source are coupled into the optic fiber at the entrance surface. The optic fiber conducts the light rays along its length and within the outer surface. The outer surface is formed with a plurality of non-scattering light redirecting structures. The light redirecting structures have a distribution density that varies as a function of the length. Each light redirecting structure is arranged to redirect a light ray incident to it through the outer surface.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a light distribution device includes an optic fiber core. The optic fiber core has an outer surface, a length and an entrance surface. The entrance surface is arranged for coupling light rays from a light source into said optic fiber. The optic fiber is arranged for conducting the light rays along its length and within the outer surface. The outer surface is formed with a plurality of light redirecting structures, and each light redirecting structure is arranged to redirect a light ray incident to it through the outer surface. An optical capillary surrounds the optic fiber core. The optical capillary is arranged for scattering the light rays distributed from the fiber optic core.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention a fiber optic luminaire includes an optic fiber core. The optic fiber core has an outer surface, a length and an entrance surface, and the entrance surface is arranged for coupling light rays from a light source into the optic fiber core. The optic fiber core is arranged to conduct the light rays along its length and within said outer surface. An optical capillary surrounds the optic fiber core. The optical capillary has an inner capillary surface and an outer capillary surface. The inner capillary surface forms an annular chamber between the fiber optic core and the optical capillary. The inner capillary surface is also formed with a plurality of light redirecting structures. Each light redirecting structure is arranged to cause a leakage of light rays from the optic fiber core adjacent the light redirecting structure, and the optical capillary is arranged for scattering the leaked light rays.
In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an illuminated apparatus includes an apparatus housing arranged to receive a fiber optic luminaire. The fiber optic luminaire includes an optic fiber. The optic fiber has an outer surface, a length and an entrance surface. The entrance surface is arranged for coupling light rays from a light source into said optic fiber, and the optic fiber is arranged for conducting said light rays along said length and within said outer surface. The outer surface is also formed with a plurality of light redirecting structures. Each light redirecting structure is arranged to redirect a light ray incident to it through said outer surface.
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Hosseini Abbas
Jannson Tomasz P.
Kupiec Stephen A.
Vasiliev Anatoly
Husar Stephen
Nilles & Nilles S.C.
Physical Optics Corporation
Ward John Anthony
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