Patent US2881122A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5995690A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Front light extraction film for light guiding systems and method of manufacture
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1996-11-21
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Granted: 1999-11-30
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Expires: 2016-11-21
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a front light extraction tape for coupling light out of a light guiding device. The tape has a flexible, light transmissive outer portion and a light coupling element secured to a lower surface of the outer portion without using adhesive. An input surface of the light coupling element is contactable with an output surface of the light guiding device for receiving light therefrom. A reflecting surface of the light coupling element is aligned so as to reflect light received into the light coupling element through the light transmissive outer portion. The light coupling element may be formed integrally with the outer portion so as to avoid a material interface between the light coupling element and the outer portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur L. Kotz
- 👤 Mary B. Poppendieck
- 👤 Michiru Hata
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 08:00
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0011; G02B6/0033; G02B6/005; G02B6/0053; G02B6/0005; G02B6/001; G02B6/0065; G02B6/0035; G02B6/0036
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A front light extraction tape for use with a light guiding device having an output surface, comprising: a light transmissive outer portion; and a discretely formed light coupling element adhesivelessly contacted to a lower surface of the outer portion for movement therewith, an input surface of the light coupling element contactable with the output surface of the light guiding device for receiving light therefrom and a specularly reflecting surface of the light coupling element aligned so as to internally reflect light received into the light coupling element out through the light transmissive outer portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A front light extraction tape for use with a light guiding device having an output surface, comprising: a light transmissive outer portion; and a discretely formed light coupling element adhesivelessly contacted to a lower surface of the outer portion for movement therewith, an input surface of the light coupling element contactable with the output surface of the light guiding device for receiving light therefrom and a specularly reflecting surface of the light coupling element aligned so as to internally reflect light received into the light coupling element out through the light transmissive outer portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The front light extraction tape of claim 1, wherein the input surface of the light coupling element is deformable so as to form optical contact directly on the light guiding device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The front light extraction tape of claim 2, wherein the input surface of the light coupling element comprises a portion sloped relative to the output surface and has an area contactable on the output surface, the area variable in response to pressure applied to the front light extraction tape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The front light extraction tape of claim 3, wherein the area contactable on the output surface is settable at a determined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The front extraction tape of claim 1, wherein the light coupling element has a refractive index higher than or equal to a refractive index of the light guiding device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The front extraction tape of claim 1, wherein the light coupling element has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the light guiding device, and higher than a refractive index of a cladding layer on the light guiding device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The front light extraction tape of claim 1, wherein the outer portion has a refractive index less than a refractive index of the light guiding device, and the outer portion is contactable on the light guiding device at areas proximate the light coupling element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The front light extraction tape of claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface is aligned for total internal reflection of the light received into the light coupling element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A front light extraction tape for use with a light guiding device having an output surface, comprising: a light transmissive outer portion; and a light coupling element integrally formed on a lower surface of the outer portion as a unitary structure for movement therewith, an input surface of the light coupling element deformable so as to form optical contact directly on the light guiding device for receiving light therefrom and a specularly reflecting surface of the light coupling element aligned so as to internally reflect light received into the light coupling element out through the light transmissive outer portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
A front light extraction tape for use with a light guiding device having an output surface, comprising: a light transmissive outer portion; and a light coupling element integrally formed on a lower surface of the outer portion as a unitary structure for movement therewith, an input surface of the light coupling element deformable so as to form optical contact directly on the light guiding device for receiving light therefrom and a specularly reflecting surface of the light coupling element aligned so as to internally reflect light received into the light coupling element out through the light transmissive outer portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The front light extraction tape of claim 9, wherein the input surface of the light coupling element comprises a portion sloped relative to the output surface and has an area contactable on the output surface, the area variable in response to pressure applied to the front light extraction tape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The front light extraction tape of claim 10, wherein the area contactable on the output surface is settable at a determined value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The front extraction tape of claim 9, wherein the light coupling element has a refractive index higher than or equal to a refractive index of the light guiding device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The front extraction tape of claim 9, wherein the light coupling element has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the light guiding device, and higher than a refractive index of a cladding layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The front light extraction tape of claim 9, wherein the reflecting surface is aligned for total internal reflection of the light received into the light coupling element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
105 words
A transverse-output optical fiber device, comprising: a waveguiding core having an output region on a surface; and a front light extractor secured on the output region, the extractor comprising a light transmissive outer portion and a discretely formed light coupling element adhesivelessly contacted to a lower surface of the outer portion for movement therewith, an input surface of the light coupling element contacted to a coupling portion of the output region for receiving light therefrom and a specularly reflecting surface of the light coupling element aligned so as to internally reflect light received into the light coupling element out through the light transmissive outer portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
A transverse-output optical fiber device, comprising: a waveguiding core having an output region on a surface; and a front light extractor secured on the output region, the extractor comprising a light transmissive outer portion and a discretely formed light coupling element adhesivelessly contacted to a lower surface of the outer portion for movement therewith, an input surface of the light coupling element contacted to a coupling portion of the output region for receiving light therefrom and a specularly reflecting surface of the light coupling element aligned so as to internally reflect light received into the light coupling element out through the light transmissive outer portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the input surface of the light coupling element is deformable so as to form optical contact directly on the light guiding device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 16, wherein the input surface of the light coupling element comprises a portion sloped relative to the surface of the waveguiding core and has an area contactable on the output region, the area variable in response to pressure applied to the front light extractor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the area contactable on the output region is settable at a determined value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the light coupling element has a refractive index higher than or equal to a refractive index of the waveguiding core.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 15, further comprising a cladding layer covering at least a portion of the waveguiding core, wherein the light coupling element has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the waveguiding core, and higher than a refractive index of the cladding layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the outer portion has a refractive index less than a refractive index of the waveguiding core, and the outer portion is contactable on the waveguiding core at areas proximate the light coupling element.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the front light extractor includes a plurality of light coupling elements disposed along the light transmissive outer portion, the spacing between light coupling elements and areas of the input surfaces of the light coupling elements selected so as to extract light from the waveguiding core essentially uniformly along a length of the output region.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 15, wherein the reflecting surface is aligned for total internal reflection of the light received into the light coupling element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
110 words
A transverse-output optical fiber device, comprising: a waveguiding core having an output region on a surface; and a front light extractor secured on the output region, the extractor comprising a light transmissive outer portion and a light coupling element integrally formed on a lower surface of the outer portion as a unitary structure for movement therewith, an input surface of the light coupling element deformable so as to form optical contact directly on the waveguiding core for receiving light therefrom and a specularly reflecting surface of the light coupling element aligned so as to internally reflect light received into the light coupling element out through the light transmissive outer portion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
110 words
A transverse-output optical fiber device, comprising: a waveguiding core having an output region on a surface; and a front light extractor secured on the output region, the extractor comprising a light transmissive outer portion and a light coupling element integrally formed on a lower surface of the outer portion as a unitary structure for movement therewith, an input surface of the light coupling element deformable so as to form optical contact directly on the waveguiding core for receiving light therefrom and a specularly reflecting surface of the light coupling element aligned so as to internally reflect light received into the light coupling element out through the light transmissive outer portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
The device of claim 24, wherein the input surface of the light coupling element comprises a portion sloped relative to the surface of the waveguiding core and has an area contactable on the output region, the area variable in response to pressure applied to the front light extraction tape.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 25, wherein the area contactable on the output region is settable at a determined value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 24, further comprising a cladding layer covering at least a portion of the waveguiding core, wherein the light coupling element has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the light guiding device, and higher than a refractive index of the cladding layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 24, wherein the light coupling element has a refractive index higher than or equal to a refractive index of the waveguiding core.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 24, wherein the front light extractor includes a plurality of light coupling elements disposed along the light transmissive outer portion, the spacing between light coupling elements and areas of the input surfaces of the light coupling elements selected so as to extract light from the waveguiding core essentially uniformly along a length of the output region.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 24, wherein the reflecting surface is aligned for total internal reflection of the light received into the light coupling element.
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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) | 2002-11-29 | 2003-05-31 | 2003-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-29 | 2007-05-31 | 2007-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-29 | 2011-05-31 | 2011-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |