US5548676A — Light pipe optical coupling between led and fiber…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 119 words

In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis, b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis, c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, e) and including a hollow connector connected to said mounting means and having a first portion to receive said cable and to position said cable entrance end at said location, the connector having grip means thereon to grip the cable and to resist endwise withdrawal of the cable relative to said connector and mounting means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 119 words

In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis, b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis, c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, e) and including a hollow connector connected to said mounting means and having a first portion to receive said cable and to position said cable entrance end at said location, the connector having grip means thereon to grip the cable and to resist endwise withdrawal of the cable relative to said connector and mounting means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said light pipe tapers toward said entrance end.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein said light pipe has a generally conical surface oriented to reflect light rays from the LED lens toward said cable entrance end.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

The combination of claim 3 wherein a plane containing said axis intersects said conical surface along lines concave toward said axis.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said emitter has a center located at one of the following positions: on said axis spaced from said axis at a side thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said LED lens is convex toward said light pipe.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The combination of claim 6 wherein said light pipe has a relatively large entrance end and a relatively small exit end, said entrance end proximate said LED lens, and said exit end proximate said cable entrance end.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a housing in which said light pipe is received.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 12 words

The combination of claim 8 wherein the housing also receives the LED.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of claim 8 including means on the mounting means to attach to a panel, outwardly of the connector.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The combination of claim 10 including a hole in the panel to receive a portion of the connector that connects to the mounting means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said connector and said mounting means have telescopic interfit.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 12 including a mounting panel to which said connector is connected.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 14 words

The combination of claim 13 wherein said panel defines an opening receiving said connector.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

The combination of claim 1 including a circuit board to which said mounting means is connected.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination of claim 15 including a projection on said mounting means and received by the circuit board to locate said mounting means relative to said board.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 19 words

The combination of claim 15 wherein the LED has terminals projecting for electrical connection to circuitry on said board.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The combination of claim 1 including a circuit board to which said mounting means is connected.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination of claim 18 including a projection on said mounting means and received by the circuit board to locate said mounting means relative to said board.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein said grip means comprises barb means on the connector.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 29 words

The combination of claim 1 including an LED support having grip connection to a base defined by the LED, and retention means on the support to retain LED terminals.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The combination of claim 21 wherein said retention means includes a closure having hinged connection to the support to swing downwardly and retain LED terminals in position deflected to project toward a circuit board.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

The combination of claim 21 including a projection on the support for connection to a circuit board.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 47 words

The combination of claim 21 wherein said support has five through openings to pass LED leads, three of said openings spaced apart to pass the three leads of a tri-lead LED, and two of said openings spaced apart to pass the two leads of a bi-lead LED.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of claim 1 including means integral with the mounting means to retain the LED in fixed axial position.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 94 words

In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis, b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis, c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, e) and including spring fingers on the mounting means retaining the LED in fixed axial position after endwise insertion of the LED between said fingers and into the mounting means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 94 words

In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis, b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis, c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, e) and including spring fingers on the mounting means retaining the LED in fixed axial position after endwise insertion of the LED between said fingers and into the mounting means.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 136 words

The method of forming a combination that includes: a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis, b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis, c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, said method including attaching said mounting means containing said LED and light pipe to a support structure, and then endwise inserting said cable into said mounting means to bring said entrance end into said location, and including providing a cable connector, attaching the connector to said mounting means, and providing grip means on the connector to grip the cable and hold the cable at said location.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 136 words

The method of forming a combination that includes: a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis, b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis, c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, and d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, said method including attaching said mounting means containing said LED and light pipe to a support structure, and then endwise inserting said cable into said mounting means to bring said entrance end into said location, and including providing a cable connector, attaching the connector to said mounting means, and providing grip means on the connector to grip the cable and hold the cable at said location.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 27 including providing said support structure in the form of one of the following: a circuit board a panel defining an opening receiving said mounting means.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 81 words

In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis, b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis, c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, e) and including a detector operatively coupled to the cable to detect light signals transmitted by the cable.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 81 words

In combination, a) a mounting means having a longitudinal axis, b) an LED having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along said axis, c) a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end in a location facing longitudinally toward the LED and spaced therefrom, d) a light-reflecting light pipe located longitudinally between the LED lens and said cable entrance end, e) and including a detector operatively coupled to the cable to detect light signals transmitted by the cable.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 37 words

The combination of claim 29 wherein the detector includes an LED-type device having an envelope proximate an end of the cable, and there being mounting means for said device having spring fingers retaining and positioning the device.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-08-20	2000-02-19	2000-08-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-08-20	2004-02-19	2004-08-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-08-20	2008-02-19	2008-08-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Light pipe optical coupling between led and fiber optics cable

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