US5982969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical transmission tube, making method, and linear illuminant system
Assignee: Bridgestone Corp
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Filing: 1998-04-24
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Granted: 1999-11-09
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Expires: 2018-04-24
Abstract
Abstract In an optical transmission tube comprising a tubular cladding and a core within the cladding having a higher index of refraction than the cladding, a strip-shaped reflecting layer is longitudinally extended between the cladding and the core. Light passing through the core is reflected and scattered by the reflecting layer to emerge from the tube through an area of the outer surface of the cladding opposed to the reflecting layer. The optical transmission tube is prepared by dispersing scattering particles in a monomer solution; filling a tubular cladding with the monomer solution; resting the cladding horizontally for allowing the scattering particles to settle on a lower inner surface of the cladding; and thereafter, causing the monomer solution to polymerize and solidify within the cladding.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Sugiyama
- 👤 Masato Sugimachi
- 👤 Minoru Ishiharada
- 👤 Yasuhiro Morimura
- 👤 Tatsuo Terahama
- 👤 Hiroshi Fukuyama
- 👤 Itsuo Tanuma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:31
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/32; B60Q1/323; B60Q3/00; B60Q3/60; B60Q3/62; B60Q3/64; B60Q3/70; B60Q3/78; B60Q7/00; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/001; G02B6/02; G02B6/02033; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; F; F21; F21S; F21S9/00; F21S9/02; F21S9/022; F21W; F21W2111/00; F21W2111/02; F21W2111/027; F21Y; F21Y2115/00; F21Y2115/10; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0033; G02B6/005; G02B6/0055; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An optical transmission tube comprising a tubular cladding having an outer surface, a core within the cladding having a higher index of refraction than said cladding, and a reflecting layer in a strip form extending between said cladding and said core and longitudinally of said cladding, wherein light passing through said core is reflected and scattered by the reflecting layer to emerge from the tube through an area of the outer surface of said cladding opposed to the reflecting layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical transmission tube comprising a tubular cladding having an outer surface, a core within the cladding having a higher index of refraction than said cladding, and a reflecting layer in a strip form extending between said cladding and said core and longitudinally of said cladding, wherein light passing through said core is reflected and scattered by the reflecting layer to emerge from the tube through an area of the outer surface of said cladding opposed to the reflecting layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical transmission tube of claim 1 wherein said reflecting layer is comprised of scattering particles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical transmission tube of claim 1 further comprising a reflective protective layer disposed on an area of the outer surface of said cladding surrounding the reflecting layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical transmission tube of claim 1 wherein said cladding is constructed of a fluorinated polymer and said core is constructed of an acrylic polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical transmission tube of claim 1 wherein said cladding is constructed of a (meth)acrylic polymer, said core is constructed of polystyrene, polycarbonate or a styrene-(meth)acrylate copolymer, and said reflecting layer is constructed of a (meth)acrylic polymer loaded with a white pigment or scattering agent.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for preparing an optical transmission tube, comprising the steps of: dispersing scattering particles in a core-forming solution comprising a monomer capable of forming a core upon polymerization, filling a tubular cladding with the scattering particle-dispersed core-forming solution, resting the tubular cladding horizontally for allowing the scattering particles to settle on a lower inner surface of the cladding, and thereafter, causing the core-forming solution to polymerize and solidify within said cladding, thereby forming a solid core within said cladding and forming a reflecting layer composed of the scattering particles in a strip form extending between said cladding and said core and longitudinally of said cladding.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for preparing an optical transmission tube, comprising the steps of: dispersing scattering particles in a core-forming solution comprising a monomer capable of forming a core upon polymerization, filling a tubular cladding with the scattering particle-dispersed core-forming solution, resting the tubular cladding horizontally for allowing the scattering particles to settle on a lower inner surface of the cladding, and thereafter, causing the core-forming solution to polymerize and solidify within said cladding, thereby forming a solid core within said cladding and forming a reflecting layer composed of the scattering particles in a strip form extending between said cladding and said core and longitudinally of said cladding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of forming a reflective protective layer on an area of the outer surface of said cladding surrounding the reflecting layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said cladding is constructed of a fluorinated polymer and said core is constructed of an acrylic polymer.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for preparing an optical transmission tube using a three-color extruder having three screw sections, comprising the steps of: simultaneously feeding a core material, a cladding material, and a reflecting material loaded with a white pigment or scattering agent into the extruder, and extruding the core material into a cylindrical core, extruding the reflecting material into a strip-shaped reflecting layer on the outer surface of the cylindrical core, and extruding the cladding material into a tubular cladding enclosing the core and the reflecting strip, thereby forming the optical transmission tube having the strip-shaped reflecting layer extending between the cladding and the core and longitudinally of the cladding.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for preparing an optical transmission tube using a three-color extruder having three screw sections, comprising the steps of: simultaneously feeding a core material, a cladding material, and a reflecting material loaded with a white pigment or scattering agent into the extruder, and extruding the core material into a cylindrical core, extruding the reflecting material into a strip-shaped reflecting layer on the outer surface of the cylindrical core, and extruding the cladding material into a tubular cladding enclosing the core and the reflecting strip, thereby forming the optical transmission tube having the strip-shaped reflecting layer extending between the cladding and the core and longitudinally of the cladding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said cladding is constructed of a (meth)acrylic polymer, said core is constructed of polystyrene, polycarbonate or a styrene-(meth)acrylate copolymer, and said reflecting layer is constructed of a (meth)acrylic polymer loaded with a white pigment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A linear illuminant system comprising a light transmission tube including a transparent core and a cladding having a lower index of refraction than the core, and serving as a light emergent element, a reflecting layer in a strip form extending between said cladding and said core and longitudinally of said cladding, a light source coupled to at least one end of said light transmission tube in a water-proof manner, and a drive means for operating the light source, wherein said light transmission tube is constructed such that when light emitted from the light source is transmitted by said light transmission tube, light emerges from a longitudinal side of said light transmission tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
112 words
A linear illuminant system comprising a light transmission tube including a transparent core and a cladding having a lower index of refraction than the core, and serving as a light emergent element, a reflecting layer in a strip form extending between said cladding and said core and longitudinally of said cladding, a light source coupled to at least one end of said light transmission tube in a water-proof manner, and a drive means for operating the light source, wherein said light transmission tube is constructed such that when light emitted from the light source is transmitted by said light transmission tube, light emerges from a longitudinal side of said light transmission tube.
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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) | 2002-11-08 | 2003-05-10 | 2003-11-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-08 | 2007-05-10 | 2007-11-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-08 | 2011-05-10 | 2011-11-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |