US5276504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Linear backlighting system and method
Assignee: Dolan-Jenner Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1992-04-03
•
Granted: 1994-01-04
•
Expires: 2012-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A linear lighting system includes a rod made of a material such as glass surrounded by an outer layer of cladding of lower refractive index than the glass. The rod is ground flat on one side to produce a flat rough surface with the texture oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the rod. Light from a light source enters the rod at one end of the rod. As the light propagates down the rod, it is scattered by the rough flat surface. Some of the scattered light strikes the rounded surface at an angle which allows it to pass through the cladding and escape the rod, thus producing uniform linear lighting emitted from the round side of the rod.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt Zwirner
- 👤 John Stark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/22; G01B11/02; G01B11/024; G01B11/08; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A linear lighting system for providing lighting oriented primarily in a single dimension comprising: a) a light source for providing light; b) a rod for receiving light from the light source, wherein said rod comprises: a core through which the light propagates; a curved first longitudinal surface; a cladding on the curved first surface; and a flat second longitudinal surface having a rough texture with a grain oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod, said flat surface scattering the light as it travels longitudinally through the rod such that some of the scattered light passes through the cladding and is emitted from the rod; and c) a housing for holding secure the light source relative to the rod, said housing having a linear aperture through which light emitted from the rod may escape to provide linear lighting oriented primarily in a single dimension.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A linear lighting system for providing lighting oriented primarily in a single dimension comprising: a) a light source for providing light; b) a rod for receiving light from the light source, wherein said rod comprises: a core through which the light propagates; a curved first longitudinal surface; a cladding on the curved first surface; and a flat second longitudinal surface having a rough texture with a grain oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod, said flat surface scattering the light as it travels longitudinally through the rod such that some of the scattered light passes through the cladding and is emitted from the rod; and c) a housing for holding secure the light source relative to the rod, said housing having a linear aperture through which light emitted from the rod may escape to provide linear lighting oriented primarily in a single dimension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein an exterior of the flat second longitudinal surface of the rod is coated with a reflective coating to prevent light from escaping via the flat second longitudinal surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein the rod is positioned so that its curved longitudinal surface faces the aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein the rod and the cladding are glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cover that is attached to the housing for covering the aperture of the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 5 wherein the cover diffuses light that passes through said cover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein the light source is a fiber optic bundle.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of providing linear lighting oriented primarily in a single dimension comprising the steps of: a) providing a rod having a core, a curved first longitudinal surface covered with a cladding and a flat second longitudinal surface for scattering light, said flat second longitudinal surface having a rough texture with grain oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod; b) positioning a light source at an end of the rod; and c) transmitting light with the light source to the rod so that the light travels through the rod longitudinally while being scattered by the flat longitudinal surface, some of said light escaping the rod through the cladding on the curved surface to provide lighting oriented primarily in a single linear dimension.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of providing linear lighting oriented primarily in a single dimension comprising the steps of: a) providing a rod having a core, a curved first longitudinal surface covered with a cladding and a flat second longitudinal surface for scattering light, said flat second longitudinal surface having a rough texture with grain oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the rod; b) positioning a light source at an end of the rod; and c) transmitting light with the light source to the rod so that the light travels through the rod longitudinally while being scattered by the flat longitudinal surface, some of said light escaping the rod through the cladding on the curved surface to provide lighting oriented primarily in a single linear dimension.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising backlighting a target with the light escaping from the rod in a machine vision system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3491245A
Cited
US4059916A
Cited
US4293226A
Cited
US4576482A
Cited
US4561043A
Cited
US4597030A
Cited
US4714983A
Cited
US4772128A
Cited
US4797711A
Cited
US4845596A
Cited
US4820917A
Cited
US4911527A
Cited
US5005108A
Cited
US4989933A
Cited
US5102227A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-01-03 | 1997-07-05 | 1998-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-03 | 2001-07-05 | 2002-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-03 | 2005-07-05 | 2006-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |