US20030156431A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illumination device
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 2001-12-31
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2021-12-31
Abstract
Abstract Illumination devices comprising a light source and a light fiber are reported. The light fiber is optically coupled to the light source such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source impinges on the input end of the light fiber. The light fiber comprises an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end. The light fiber includes a light-emitting region including at least one optical element that directs light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis. A continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extends over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements.
Inventors
- 👤 John Gozum
- 👤 Thomas Reid
- 👤 Gerald Uhl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:55
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/001; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
1 . An illumination device comprising: (a) a light source; (b) a light fiber comprising: an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end; a light-emitting region directing light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the light-emitting region comprising at least one optical element; and a continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extending over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements; wherein the light fiber is optically coupled to the light source such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source impinges on the input end of the light fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
1 . An illumination device comprising: (a) a light source; (b) a light fiber comprising: an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from a light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end; a light-emitting region directing light traveling though the light fiber out of at least a portion the lateral surface of the light fiber in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis, the light-emitting region comprising at least one optical element; and a continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extending over the lateral surface of the core and the optical elements; wherein the light fiber is optically coupled to the light source such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source impinges on the input end of the light fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
2 . The illumination device of claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting region comprises a series of two or more optical elements separated at a distance from one another along the longitudinal axis of the core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
3 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light emitting region has a length along the longitudinal axis that is less than a total length of the light fiber along the longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
4 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light-emitting region of the light fiber emits light with a lateral angular distribution of less than 360 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
5 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light-emitting region of the light fiber emits light with a lateral angular distribution of less than 180 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
6 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light fiber is rotatably connected to the light source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
7 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light fiber is detachably connected to the light source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
8 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light fiber emits light from both the output end and the light-emitting region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
9 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light source is a flashlight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
10 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the continuous outer cladding comprises fluorinated ethylene-propylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
11 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light-emitting region comprises at least three optical elements regularly spaced along the longitudinal axis of the core.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
12 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light-emitting region comprises at least three optical elements irregularly spaced along the longitudinal axis of the core.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
13 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the optical elements have a depth ranging from about 1% to 10% of a thickness of the light fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
14 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light fiber includes a first optical element having a first depth and a second optical element having a second depth wherein the first depth is not equal to the second depth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
15 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the light fiber has a circular cross-sectional shape and has a diameter ranging from about 1 mm to about 25 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
16 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein the outer cladding layer has a thickness less than about 1 mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
17 . The illumination device of claim 2 further including a jacket layer over the outer cladding layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
18 . The illumination device of claim 2 , wherein each of the optical elements comprise at least one reflection surface inclined at an angle from 10° to 80° to a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the core.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5298327A
Cited
US4790752A
Cited
US4765701A
Cited
US5432876A
Cited
US5432876C1
Cited
US5659643A
Cited
US5905826A
Cited
US5857761A
Cited
US5995690A
Cited
US5845038A
Cited
US6301418B1
Cited
US6267492B1
Cited
US6272275B1
Cited
US6631994B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.