US5432876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illumination devices and optical fibres for use therein
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1992-10-19
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Granted: 1995-07-11
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Expires: 2012-10-19
Abstract
Abstract An optical fibre has a light emitting region. In the light emitting region are reflecting surfaces, at least one of which has a cross sectional area less than that of the fibre. Light striking the reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of the fibre.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger H. Appeldorn
- 👤 Alan G. Hulme-Lowe
- 👤 Michael C. Lea
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:43
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/001; F; F21; F21V; F21V2200/00; F21V2200/10; F21V2200/15; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An illumination device comprising an illumination device for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibre having a light emitting region, said light emitting region comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending into said fibre and arranged such that a portion of light propagating along said fibre and impinging upon said surfaces will be reflected out of said fibre by total internal reflection through a side wail thereof, at least one of said reflecting surfaces having a cross-sectional area less than that of said fibre, said reflecting surfaces varying in cross-sectional area and/or spacing such that light is emitted over said light emitting region substantially uniformly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An illumination device comprising an illumination device for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibre having a light emitting region, said light emitting region comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending into said fibre and arranged such that a portion of light propagating along said fibre and impinging upon said surfaces will be reflected out of said fibre by total internal reflection through a side wail thereof, at least one of said reflecting surfaces having a cross-sectional area less than that of said fibre, said reflecting surfaces varying in cross-sectional area and/or spacing such that light is emitted over said light emitting region substantially uniformly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illumination device according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between successive reflecting surfaces decreases as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illumination device according to claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illumination device according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An illumination device according to claim 1 wherein each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially planar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illumination device according to claim 5 wherein the spacing between successive reflecting surfaces decreases as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illumination device according to claim 6 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illumination device according to claim 5 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An illumination device according to claim 1 wherein each of said reflecting surfaces comprises a wall of a notch in said fibre.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illumination device according to claim 9 wherein the spacing between successive reflecting surfaces decreases as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illumination device according to claim 10 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illumination device according to claim 9 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
An illumination device according to claim 9 wherein each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially planar.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illumination device according to claim 13 wherein the spacing between successive reflecting surfaces decreases as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illumination device according to claim 14 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An illumination device according to claim 13 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
An illumination device comprising an illumination device for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibre having a light emitting region, said light emitting region comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending into said fibre and arranged such that a portion of light propagating along said fibre and impinging upon said surfaces will be reflected out of said fibre by total internal reflection through a side wall thereof, said reflecting surfaces having cross-sectional areas that vary such that the amount of light reflected out of said fibre by each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially equal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
An illumination device comprising an illumination device for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibre having a light emitting region, said light emitting region comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending into said fibre and arranged such that a portion of light propagating along said fibre and impinging upon said surfaces will be reflected out of said fibre by total internal reflection through a side wall thereof, said reflecting surfaces having cross-sectional areas that vary such that the amount of light reflected out of said fibre by each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially equal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An illumination device according to claim 17 wherein each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially planar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
96 words
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of said reflecting surfaces increases as distance along said fibres increases in said preselected direction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
96 words
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of said reflecting surfaces increases as distance along said fibres increases in said preselected direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of said reflecting surfaces varies such that the amount of light reflected out of each fibre by each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially equal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
106 words
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of said reflecting surfaces varies such that the amount of light reflected out of each fibre by each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially equal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
107 words
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of the said reflecting surfaces and/or the spacing between said reflecting surfaces varies such that the light emitted over said light emitting region is substantially uniform.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
107 words
An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of the said reflecting surfaces and/or the spacing between said reflecting surfaces varies such that the light emitted over said light emitting region is substantially uniform.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-10 | 1999-01-09 | 1999-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-10 | 2003-01-09 | 2003-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-10 | 2007-01-09 | 2007-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |