Patent US4718066A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0032591A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3907403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fibre-optics faceplate observable with high-intensity ambient illumination
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
•
Filing: 1974-06-18
•
Granted: 1975-09-23
•
Expires: 1994-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A fibre-optics faceplate for displaying an optical image of high image contrast that is suitable for visual observation under high-intensity ambient illumination. The faceplate is a bundle of side-by-side optical fibres, each having a core with a low numerical aperture of below about 0.4, cladding therearound having an index of refraction less than that of the core, and a light-absorbent glass layer around the cladding. The outer surface of the bundle is roughened and has a coating thereon with an index of refraction less than that of the cores. The inner surface has a fluorescent material thereon for emitting optical signals by application thereto of electrical signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Haruo Maeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J29/00; H01J29/86; H01J29/89; H01J29/892; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; G02B6/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
29 words
AN INDEX OF REFRACTION FOR SAID CLADDINGS THAT IS LOWER THAN SAID SELECTED INDEX OF REFRACTION, WHEREBY SAID SCATTERED AMBINET LIGHT IN SAID CORES IS PARTIALLY REFLECTED OUTWARDLY, AND
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
AN INDEX OF REFRACTION FOR SAID CLADDINGS THAT IS LOWER THAN SAID SELECTED INDEX OF REFRACTION, WHEREBY SAID SCATTERED AMBINET LIGHT IN SAID CORES IS PARTIALLY REFLECTED OUTWARDLY, AND
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A NUMERICAL APERTURE OF UP TO ABOUT 0.4 FOR SAID BUNDLE THAT DEFINES A RELATIVELY NARROWED VIEWING ANGLE, INCREASES INTERNAL REFLECTIONS BY SAID CLADDINGS, AND IMPROVES IMAGE CONTRAST,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A NUMERICAL APERTURE OF UP TO ABOUT 0.4 FOR SAID BUNDLE THAT DEFINES A RELATIVELY NARROWED VIEWING ANGLE, INCREASES INTERNAL REFLECTIONS BY SAID CLADDINGS, AND IMPROVES IMAGE CONTRAST,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A FIBRE OPTICS FACEPLATE HAVING A NEARLY BLACK SURFACE, FOR DISPLAYING AN OPTICAL IMAGE OF HIGH CONTRAST UNDER HIGH-INTENSITY AMBIENT ILLUMINATION CONDITIONS, COMPRISING: A. A SCREEN FORMED OF A BUNDLE OF SIDE-BY-SIDE OPTICAL FIBRES, COMPRISING CORES HAVING A SELECTED INDEX OF REFRACTION, CLADDINGS ENVELOPING EACH OF SAID CORES, AND ABSORBING GLASS LAYERS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CLAD CORES, SAID BUNDLE HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE AND AN INNER SURFACE AT THE OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID FIBRES: B. AS A LIGHT-SCATTERING MEANS FOR AMBIENT LIGHT PASSING THROUGH SAID CORES FROM SAID OUTER SURFACE, A FLUORESCENT LAYER AS A COATING ON SAID INNER SURFACE: C. A MININIZING MEANS FOR AMBIENT LIGHT THAT IS INCIDENT UPON SAID DARK SURFACE, COMPRISING:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A FIBRE OPTICS FACEPLATE HAVING A NEARLY BLACK SURFACE, FOR DISPLAYING AN OPTICAL IMAGE OF HIGH CONTRAST UNDER HIGH-INTENSITY AMBIENT ILLUMINATION CONDITIONS, COMPRISING: A. A SCREEN FORMED OF A BUNDLE OF SIDE-BY-SIDE OPTICAL FIBRES, COMPRISING CORES HAVING A SELECTED INDEX OF REFRACTION, CLADDINGS ENVELOPING EACH OF SAID CORES, AND ABSORBING GLASS LAYERS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID CLAD CORES, SAID BUNDLE HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE AND AN INNER SURFACE AT THE OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID FIBRES: B. AS A LIGHT-SCATTERING MEANS FOR AMBIENT LIGHT PASSING THROUGH SAID CORES FROM SAID OUTER SURFACE, A FLUORESCENT LAYER AS A COATING ON SAID INNER SURFACE: C. A MININIZING MEANS FOR AMBIENT LIGHT THAT IS INCIDENT UPON SAID DARK SURFACE, COMPRISING:
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A COARSE FINISHING OF SAID OUTER SURFACE THAT SCATTERS RANDOMLY SAD INCIDENT AMBIENT LIGHT, AND
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A COARSE FINISHING OF SAID OUTER SURFACE THAT SCATTERS RANDOMLY SAD INCIDENT AMBIENT LIGHT, AND
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The faceplate according to claim 1, wherein said coating comprises a grease.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
light absorption capability in said absorbing glass layers for absorbing said outwardly reflected ambient light passing through said claddings.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
light absorption capability in said absorbing glass layers for absorbing said outwardly reflected ambient light passing through said claddings.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
a coarse finishing of said outer surface that scatters randomly said incident ambient light, and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
a coarse finishing of said outer surface that scatters randomly said incident ambient light, and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
LIGHT ABSORPTION CAPABILITY IN SAID ABSORBING GLASS LAYERS FOR ABSORBING SAID OUTWARDLY REFLECTED AMBIENT LIGHT PASSING THROUGH SAID CLADDINGS.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
LIGHT ABSORPTION CAPABILITY IN SAID ABSORBING GLASS LAYERS FOR ABSORBING SAID OUTWARDLY REFLECTED AMBIENT LIGHT PASSING THROUGH SAID CLADDINGS.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
108 words
a transparent coating which covers said coarse finished outer surface, said coating having a refractive index lower than said refractive index of said cores and having a range of transparency selected in consideration of the relationship between the wavelength characteristic of the light emitted from said fluorescent layer and the spectral sensitivity of an observer''s eyes, whereby interference of said ambient light with said image is minimized and said narrowed viewing angle is widened; and D. a light absorption means for said randomly scattered ambient light entering said cores through said transparent coating and for said ambient light scattered back into said cores by said fluorescent layer, comprising:
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
108 words
a transparent coating which covers said coarse finished outer surface, said coating having a refractive index lower than said refractive index of said cores and having a range of transparency selected in consideration of the relationship between the wavelength characteristic of the light emitted from said fluorescent layer and the spectral sensitivity of an observer''s eyes, whereby interference of said ambient light with said image is minimized and said narrowed viewing angle is widened; and D. a light absorption means for said randomly scattered ambient light entering said cores through said transparent coating and for said ambient light scattered back into said cores by said fluorescent layer, comprising:
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The faceplate according to claim 1, wherein said coating comprises a plastic.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
A TRANSPARENT COATING WHICH COVERS SAID COARSE FINISHED OUTER SURFACE, SAID COATING HAVING A REFRACTIVE INDEX LOWER THAN SAID REFRACTIVE INDEX OF SAID CORES AND HAVING A RANGE OF TRANSPARENCY SELECTED IN CONSIDERATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WAVELENGTH CHARACTERSITIC OF THE LIGHT EMITTED FRM SAID FLOUORESCENT LAYER AND THE SPECTRAL SENSITIVITY OF AN OBSERVER''S EYES, WHEREBY INTERFERENCE OF SAID AMBIENT LIGHT WITH SAID IMAGE IS MINIMIZED AND SAID NARROWED VIEWING ANGLE IS WIDENED: AND D. A LIGHT ABSORPTION MEANS FOR SAID RANDOMLY SCATTERED AMBIENT LIGHT ENTERING SAID CORES THROUGH SAID TRANSPARENT COATING AND FOR SAID AMBIENT LIGHT SCATTERED BACK INTO SAID CORES BY SAID FLUORESCENT LAYER, COMPRISING:
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
108 words
A TRANSPARENT COATING WHICH COVERS SAID COARSE FINISHED OUTER SURFACE, SAID COATING HAVING A REFRACTIVE INDEX LOWER THAN SAID REFRACTIVE INDEX OF SAID CORES AND HAVING A RANGE OF TRANSPARENCY SELECTED IN CONSIDERATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE WAVELENGTH CHARACTERSITIC OF THE LIGHT EMITTED FRM SAID FLOUORESCENT LAYER AND THE SPECTRAL SENSITIVITY OF AN OBSERVER''S EYES, WHEREBY INTERFERENCE OF SAID AMBIENT LIGHT WITH SAID IMAGE IS MINIMIZED AND SAID NARROWED VIEWING ANGLE IS WIDENED: AND D. A LIGHT ABSORPTION MEANS FOR SAID RANDOMLY SCATTERED AMBIENT LIGHT ENTERING SAID CORES THROUGH SAID TRANSPARENT COATING AND FOR SAID AMBIENT LIGHT SCATTERED BACK INTO SAID CORES BY SAID FLUORESCENT LAYER, COMPRISING:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |