US4907132A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light emitting panel assemblies and method of making same
Assignee: Lumitex Inc
•
Filing: 1988-09-12
•
Granted: 1990-03-06
•
Expires: 2008-09-12
Abstract
Abstract Light emitting panel assemblies and method of making same include one or more layers of woven fiber optic material having disruptions or bends at discrete locations along the length of the fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom. Only selected areas of the disruptions or bends are coated with a suitable coating material that has a refractive index that changes the attenuation of the light emitted from the selected areas. The coating material may be applied to the selected areas using one or more carrier members which become part of the panel. Alternatively, a non-permanent carrier such as a roller may be used to coat selected areas of the optical fiber disruptions or bends with the coating material after the weaving process.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey R. Parker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:54
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0033; D; D03; D03D; D03D15/00; D03D15/20; D03D15/283; D03D15/30; D03D15/37; D03D15/40; D03D15/44; D03D15/46; D03D15/50; D03D15/547; G02B6/0005; G02B6/001; A; A61; A61N; A61N5/00; A61N5/06; A61N5/0613; A61N5/0621; D10; D10B; D10B2101/00; D10B2101/20; D10B2321/00; D10B2321/04; D10B2321/042; D10B2401/00; D10B2401/20; F; F21; F21W; F21W2131/00; F21W2131/40; F21W2131/402; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A light emitting panel having one side and an other side opposite said one side comprising a plurality of optical fibers having bends at discrete locations along the length of said fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom, and coating means applied only to selected areas of the outer surfaces of said bends, said coating means extending part way around the sides of said bends and having a refractive index that changes the attenuation of the light emitted from said selected areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A light emitting panel having one side and an other side opposite said one side comprising a plurality of optical fibers having bends at discrete locations along the length of said fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom, and coating means applied only to selected areas of the outer surfaces of said bends, said coating means extending part way around the sides of said bends and having a refractive index that changes the attenuation of the light emitted from said selected areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein coating means having a higher index of refraction than said optical fibers is applied to said selected areas on said one side of said panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The panel of claim 2 wherein coating means having a lower index of refraction than said optical fibers is applied to said selected areas on the other side of said panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein coating means having the same refractive index is applied to said selected areas on both sides of said panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein said coating means on one side of said panel has a different index of refraction than said coating means on the other side of said panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The panel of claim 1 further comprising carrier means for said coating means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The panel of claim 6 wherein said carrier means for said coating means on the other side of said panel includes a back reflector to redirect the light that is emitted from said other side back through said panel and out through said one side.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The panel of claim 6 wherein said carrier means has said coating means on one side only of said carrier means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The panel of claim 6 wherein said carrier means comprises a resin or epoxy-coated film that is heat or radiation cured upon assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The panel of claim 6 wherein said carrier means includes a prismatic or lenticular film to redirect exit light ray angles of light emitted from said panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The panel of claim 6 wherein said carrier means includes a filter for absorbing or reflecting certain frequencies of light emitted from said panel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The panel of claim 6 wherein said carrier means includes a diffuser or transreflector which diffuses light emitted from said panel and reflects ambient light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The panel of claim 6 wherein said carrier means is made of said coating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The panel of claim 1 further comprising carrier means for said coating means, said carrier means also acting as a support to hold the weave spacing and pattern of said woven optical fibers in position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The panel of claim 1 further comprising carrier means for said coating means, said carrier means forming a top coat for said panel to provide protection for said panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The panel of claim 1 further comprising a back reflector on the other side of said panel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The panel of claim 16 wherein said back reflector is made of metal which is bendable to permit said panel to be formed into a desired shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The panel of claim 1 further comprising insert means for permitting said panel to be formed into a desired shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The panel of claim 1 further comprising separate carrier means for applying said coating means to selected areas of said disruptions or bends on opposite sides of said panel, said carrier means being heat sealed around the periphery of said panel to provide a protective barrier for said panel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The panel of claim 1 which includes plural layers of said optical fibers, and coating means only on selected areas of the outer surfaces of said bends on both sides of each of said layers of said optical fibers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The panel of claim 20 further comprising carrier means interposed between adjacent layers having coating means on opposite sides thereof for applying said coating means to selected areas of the outer surfaces of said bends on opposing sides of said adjacent layers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The panel of claim 21 wherein said coating means on opposite sides of said carrier means have the same index of refraction.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The panel of claim 21 wherein said coating means on opposite sides of said carrier means have different indexes of refraction.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The panel of claim 21 which includes a plurality of layers of said optical fibers, said coating means being applied to selected areas of the outer surfaces of said bends on both sides of each of said layers of said optical fibers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein said coating means is only applied to the outer surfaces of said bends on one side of said panel to change the attenuation of light emitted from said one side.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein said coating means is only applied to the outer surfaces of said bends on both sides of said panel to change the attenuation of light emitted from said panel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein the outer surfaces of said bends are partially embedded in said coating means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
The panel of claim 1 wherein the area of the outer surfaces of said bends that is covered by said coating means varies along the length of said panel to adjust the uniformity of light output from said panel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
117 words
A panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel made of a plurality of optical fibers having bends at discrete locations along the length of said fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom, coating means applied only to selected areas of the outer surfaces of said bends, said coating means extending part way around the sides of said bends and having a refractive index that changes the attenuation of the light emitted from said selected areas, a light cable connected to said panel for transmitting light to said panel from a remote light source, and connector means at a remote end of said cable which serves as an interface between said light cable and remote light source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
117 words
A panel assembly comprising a light emitting panel made of a plurality of optical fibers having bends at discrete locations along the length of said fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom, coating means applied only to selected areas of the outer surfaces of said bends, said coating means extending part way around the sides of said bends and having a refractive index that changes the attenuation of the light emitted from said selected areas, a light cable connected to said panel for transmitting light to said panel from a remote light source, and connector means at a remote end of said cable which serves as an interface between said light cable and remote light source.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The panel assembly of claim 29 further comprising a second light emitting panel connected to said first mentioned panel by another light cable extending between said panels for transmitting light from said first mentioned panel to said second panel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The panel assembly of claim 29 wherein said light cable is formed by bundling the optical fibers together at one end of said panel, and said connector means comprises buffer means surrounding the remote end of said light cable.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The panel assembly of claim 31 further comprising ferrule means crimped onto said buffer means said buffer means being made of a material that will protect the optical fibers of said light cable from said ferrule means during crimping.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The panel assembly of claim 31 wherein said buffer means is made of a material having a low refractive index.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
The panel assembly of claim 31 further comprising ferrule means crimped onto said buffer means to squeeze said buffer means and pack the optical fiber ends of said cable substantially solid.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
The panel assembly of claim 34 wherein said remote end of said light cable is heat treated to preshrink said optical fibers at said remote end before crimping to produce a higher operating temperature limit.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The panel of claim 34 wherein said optical fibers are made of plastic.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The panel of claim 34 wherein the optical fiber ends are deformed during crimping such that the shape of the cross-sectional area of each individual optical fiber end changes.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The panel of claim 34 wherein the shape of the cross-sectional area of each individual optical fiber end is in the shape of a polygon.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
The panel of claim 34 wherein said buffer material is made of Teflon.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
The panel assembly of claim 31 wherein said buffer means comprises ferrule means surrounding the remote end of said light cable for packing the optical fiber ends of said cable substantially solid.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The panel assembly of claim 31 wherein said remote end of said light cable is polished to a desired finish.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The panel assembly of claim 41 further comprising coating means applied to the polished end of said light cable for reflecting certain wavelengths of light.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The panel assembly of claim 41 further comprising filter means affixed to the polished end of said light cable for filtering out certain wavelengths of light.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The panel assembly of claim 41 further comprising a window adhesively bonded to the polished end of said light cable.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
The panel assembly of claim 29 for use in radiation curing of epoxies.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
The panel assembly of claim 29 for use in light curing of epoxies.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a light transmitting panel having one side and an other side opposite said one side comprising the steps of forming a plurality of optical fibers into a panel, with bends the fibers at discrete locations along the length of the fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom, and applying a coating only to selected areas of the outer surfaces of the bends, such coating extending part way around the sides of said bends and having a refractive index that is different from the refractive index of the optical fibers to change the attenuation of light emitted from such selected areas.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a light transmitting panel having one side and an other side opposite said one side comprising the steps of forming a plurality of optical fibers into a panel, with bends the fibers at discrete locations along the length of the fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom, and applying a coating only to selected areas of the outer surfaces of the bends, such coating extending part way around the sides of said bends and having a refractive index that is different from the refractive index of the optical fibers to change the attenuation of light emitted from such selected areas.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 47 wherein a coating is applied to such selected areas on one side of the panel having a higher refractive index than the optical fibers, and a coating is applied to such selected areas on the other side of the panel having a lower refractive index than the optical fibers.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the panel includes a plurality of layers of such optical fibers, and a coating is also applied to selected areas of the outer surfaces of the bends between adjacent layers.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 47 wherein carrier means are used to apply such coating to such selected areas.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 50 wherein such carrier means become part of the panel.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 50 wherein the carrier means is a resin or epoxy-coated film that is heat or radiation cured upon assembly to act as a support to hold the weave spacing and pattern of the woven optical fibers in position and provide protection for the panel from hazardous environments.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 50 wherein the carrier means includes a prismatic or lenticular film to redirect exit light ray angles of the light being emitted from the panel.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 50 wherein the carrier means includes a diffuser or transreflector which diffuses light emitted from the panel and reflects ambient light.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 50 wherein the panel includes a back reflector made of metal which is bendable to permit the panel to be bent into a desired shape.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 50 wherein metal inserts are provided in the panel to permit the panel to be formed into a desired shape.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 50 wherein press rolls are used to press the carrier means against the panel to apply the coating to such selected areas.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 57 wherein the amount of pressure that is applied to the carrier means by the press rolls is variable to vary the amount of surface area of the optical fiber bends that is covered by the coating.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the amount of surface area of the bends that is covered by the coating is gradually increased or decreased from one end of the panel to the other to adjust the uniformity of light output from the panel.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 47 wherein rollers are used to apply the coating to such selected areas.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 60 wherein roller pressure and roller surface type are controlled to control size, shape and location of the coated areas of such selected areas.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
120 words
A light emitting panel having one side and an other side opposite said one side comprising a plurality of woven optical fibers having disruptions or bends at discrete locations along the length of said fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom, and coating means applied only to selected areas of said disruptions or bends on both sides of said panel, said coating means having a refractive index that changes the attenuation of the light emitted from said selected areas, said coating means on one side of said panel having a higher index of refraction than said optical fibers, and said coating means on the other side of said panel having a lower index of refraction than said optical fibers.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
120 words
A light emitting panel having one side and an other side opposite said one side comprising a plurality of woven optical fibers having disruptions or bends at discrete locations along the length of said fibers to allow light to be emitted therefrom, and coating means applied only to selected areas of said disruptions or bends on both sides of said panel, said coating means having a refractive index that changes the attenuation of the light emitted from said selected areas, said coating means on one side of said panel having a higher index of refraction than said optical fibers, and said coating means on the other side of said panel having a lower index of refraction than said optical fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1725357A
Cited
US3508589A
Cited
US3596083A
Cited
US3718814A
Cited
US3825336A
Cited
US4233493A
Cited
US4128759A
Cited
US4234907A
Cited
US4241382A
Cited
US4385344A
Cited
US4422719A
Cited
US4466697A
Cited
US4519017A
Cited
US4650280A
Cited
US4597030A
Cited
US4761047A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-03-05 | 1993-09-04 | 1994-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-03-05 | 1997-09-04 | 1998-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-03-05 | 2001-09-04 | 2002-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |