Patent US1467516A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5659643A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5659643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Notched fiber array illumination device
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1995-01-23
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Granted: 1997-08-19
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Expires: 2015-01-23
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber having a core is disclosed. A notch having first and second sides is formed in the fiber and extends into the core. At least the portion of the interior of the notch adjacent the first side has an index of refraction less than that of the core. Light travelling at a first angle to the fiber axis and striking the first side will be totally internally reflected if the first angle is greater than a predetermined angle. If the first angle is less than the predetermined angle, a portion of the light will enter the notch and emerge through the second surface making a second angle to the first surface, the second angle being greater than the first.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger H. Appeldorn
- 👤 Michael C. Lea
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/001; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; G02B6/2852; D; D10; D10B; D10B2401/00; D10B2401/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An optical fiber having a core, said core having a central axis, said fiber having a notch having first and second sides and extending into said core, a portion of said notch adjacent said first side having an index of refraction less than that of said core such that light being conducted within said core and making a first angle with said axis and striking said first side will be totally internally reflected and extracted from said fiber if said first angle is greater than a preselected angle and if said angle is less than said preselected angle a portion of said light will enter said notch, wherein said light entering said notch will return to said core through said second side at a second angle to said axis, said second angle being greater than said first angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An optical fiber having a core, said core having a central axis, said fiber having a notch having first and second sides and extending into said core, a portion of said notch adjacent said first side having an index of refraction less than that of said core such that light being conducted within said core and making a first angle with said axis and striking said first side will be totally internally reflected and extracted from said fiber if said first angle is greater than a preselected angle and if said angle is less than said preselected angle a portion of said light will enter said notch, wherein said light entering said notch will return to said core through said second side at a second angle to said axis, said second angle being greater than said first angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical fiber of claim 1 wherein said first side of said notch is coated with a first material having a lower index of refraction than said core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical fiber of claim 2 wherein said notch contains a second material with an index of refraction different from that of said core and that of said first material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber of claim 3 wherein said second material has an index of refraction that is higher than that of said core.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The optical fiber of claim 1 wherein said first side makes an angle θ 1 with a normal to said axis and said second side makes an angle θ 2 with a normal to said axis, θ 1 being greater than or equal to θ 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical fiber of claim 5 wherein θ 1 is greater than θ 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical fiber of claim 1 wherein said notch is filled with a material having a lower index of refraction than that of said core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
145 words
An array of optical fibers, each fiber having a core said core having a central axis, each of said fibers having a notch having first and second sides and extending into said core, a portion of said notch adjacent said first said having an index of refraction less than that of said core such that light being conducted within said core and making a first angle with said axis and striking said first side will be totally internally reflected and extracted from said fiber if said first angle is greater than a preselected angle and if said first angle is less than said preselected angle a portion of said light will enter said notch, wherein said light entering said notch will return to said core through said second side at a second angle to said axis, said second angle being greater than said first angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
145 words
An array of optical fibers, each fiber having a core said core having a central axis, each of said fibers having a notch having first and second sides and extending into said core, a portion of said notch adjacent said first said having an index of refraction less than that of said core such that light being conducted within said core and making a first angle with said axis and striking said first side will be totally internally reflected and extracted from said fiber if said first angle is greater than a preselected angle and if said first angle is less than said preselected angle a portion of said light will enter said notch, wherein said light entering said notch will return to said core through said second side at a second angle to said axis, said second angle being greater than said first angle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The array of optical fibers of claim 8 wherein said first side of each of said notches is coated with a first material having a lower index of refraction than said core.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The array of optical fibers of claim 9 wherein each of said notches contains a second material with an index of refraction different from that of said cores and that of said first material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber of claim 10 wherein said second material has an index of refraction that is higher than that of said cores.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
The optical fiber of claim 8 wherein each of said first sides makes an angle θ 1 with a normal to said axis and said second side makes an angle θ 2 with a normal to said axis, θ 1 being greater than or equal to θ 2 .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical fiber of claim 12 wherein θ 1 is greater than θ 2 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The array of optical fibers of claim 8 wherein each of said notches is filled with a material having a lower index of refraction than that of said core.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The array of optical fibers of claim 8 wherein said fibers are joined together.
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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) | 2000-08-18 | 2001-02-17 | 2001-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-18 | 2005-02-17 | 2005-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-18 | 2009-02-17 | 2009-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |