Optical waveguides – Illuminating or display apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-18
2001-08-21
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optical waveguides
Illuminating or display apparatus
C385S100000, C385S113000, C385S115000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278833
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a light-emitting device for emitting neon-like light, which can emit neon-like light by the tube of the light-emitting device pro se, or through the micro-windows on the tube of the light-emitting device, and the main body of the light-emitting device can be bent to shape on user's demand.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the conventional neon tube
1
generally comprises a glass tube having desired shape and filled with inert gas such as He and Ne. The power connection
11
of the neon tube
1
is, through a conductive wire
12
, connected to a voltage booster
13
. The voltage booster
13
is connected to a power supply
15
through a conductive wire
14
. During the application thereof, a high voltage is generated through the action of the voltage booster
13
connected with the power supply
15
and used to drive the neon tube
1
. However, the conventional neon tube
1
has the following drawbacks:
1. The neon tube
1
is filled with hazardous gas, which might leak into air and endanger the environment once the tube is broken.
2. The neon tube
1
requires a voltage booster
13
for operation, the voltage booster
13
emits high-frequency electromagnetic, which is hazardous to user.
3. The neon tube
1
is brittle, the repairing thereof is troublesome.
4. The neon tube
1
is operated in high voltage, which might cause fire.
5. Due the high voltage operation and the brittleness of the neon tube
1
, the neon tube
1
is generally hung at high position and is hard to employ for indoor use.
6. The mounting of the neon tube requires professional operator.
7. The mounting cost is high.
8. The neon tube
1
has only a single color for a single tube, to achieve more vivid color, a plurality of neon tubes are required.
9. The neon tube
1
is controlled by PLC which switches the neon tube
1
in high frequency and is prone to malfunction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting device for emitting neon-like light to, overcome the above problems.
In one aspect of the present invention, the light-emitting device for emitting neon-like light comprises a flexible outer pipe enclosing a plurality of optical fibers. The outer pipe can prevent dust and shock which are harmful to the optical fibers therein. The outer pipe further comprises a flexible supporting wire therein, by which the light-emitting device can be bent to desired shape.
In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of micro-windows are cut on the surface of each optical fiber and the cutting depth thereof exceeds the thickness of the cladding layer of the optical fiber. By those micro-windows, a surface emitting effect is provided beside the original line emitting effect provided by the optical fiber per se and the brightness is enhanced.
In still another aspect of the present invention, a color palette is arranged between the light-emitting device and the light source and has alternating transparent and opaque regions. The color palette can rotate to generate a more attractive effect. The light emitting device can be formed in arbitrary shapes and hung on the article to be decorated such as tree.
The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4422719 (1983-12-01), Orcutt
patent: 5333228 (1994-07-01), Kingstone
patent: 5432876 (1995-07-01), Appeldorn et al.
patent: 5901267 (1999-05-01), Lee
patent: 5937127 (1999-08-01), Zarian et al.
patent: 6104857 (2000-08-01), Ishiharada et al.
Font Frank G.
Mooney Michael P.
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