US6301418B1 — Optical waveguide with diffuse light extraction

Claim 1

Independent Claim 163 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a flexible core of light transmitting material having an axis in the general direction of light flow through the optical waveguide; and a flexible cladding surrounding the core to provide a flexible optical waveguide, the cladding having an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the core, the cladding comprising an inner surface which is roughened with indentations to extract light from the core, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the core and providing a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding, with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations, to produce a light extraction pattern from the waveguide, wherein the core further comprises two or more light receiving ends and the roughening of the inner surface of the cladding increases with increasing distance from a nearest one of the light receiving ends, as measured along the core.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 163 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a flexible core of light transmitting material having an axis in the general direction of light flow through the optical waveguide; and a flexible cladding surrounding the core to provide a flexible optical waveguide, the cladding having an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the core, the cladding comprising an inner surface which is roughened with indentations to extract light from the core, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the core and providing a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding, with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations, to produce a light extraction pattern from the waveguide, wherein the core further comprises two or more light receiving ends and the roughening of the inner surface of the cladding increases with increasing distance from a nearest one of the light receiving ends, as measured along the core.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 149 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a flexible core of light transmitting material having an axis in the general direction of light flow through the optical waveguide; a flexible cladding surrounding the core to provide a flexible optical waveguide, the cladding having an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the core, the cladding comprising an inner surface which is roughened with indentations to extract light from the core, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the core and providing a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding, with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations, to produce a light extraction pattern from the waveguide; and a reflective cladding surrounding at least a portion of the optical waveguide for reflecting light extracted from the core toward a preferred set of directions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 149 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a flexible core of light transmitting material having an axis in the general direction of light flow through the optical waveguide; a flexible cladding surrounding the core to provide a flexible optical waveguide, the cladding having an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the core, the cladding comprising an inner surface which is roughened with indentations to extract light from the core, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the core and providing a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding, with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations, to produce a light extraction pattern from the waveguide; and a reflective cladding surrounding at least a portion of the optical waveguide for reflecting light extracted from the core toward a preferred set of directions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the core further comprises a light receiving end and the roughening of the inner surface of the cladding increases with increasing distance from the light receiving end, as measured along the core.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The optical waveguide of claim 3 , wherein the roughening of the inner surface of the cladding is increased at discrete intervals.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the inner surface includes one or more substantially smooth regions separating two or more roughened regions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 48 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the inner surface is roughened so that, when a light source is coupled to a light receiving end of the core, the intensity of light extracted from the core is substantially uniform along the length of the roughened inner surface.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the reflective cladding comprises a diffusive reflecting surface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the core has an outer surface complementary to the inner surface of the cladding.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the indentations comprise a plurality of randomly-spaced pits.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein the core comprises a flowable material.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the cladding that is roughened extends at least 30 centimeters.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

The optical waveguide of claim 2 , wherein a portion of the cladding that is roughened extends at least 1 meter.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 156 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a flexible core of light transmitting material having an axis in the general direction of light flow through the optical waveguide; a flexible cladding surrounding the core to provide a flexible optical waveguide, the cladding having an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the core, the cladding comprising an inner surface which is roughened with indentations to extract light from the core, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the core and providing a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding, with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations, to produce a light extraction pattern from the waveguide; and a liquid layer between at least a portion of the cladding and the core, the liquid layer having an index of refraction approximately equal to the index of refraction of the core.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 156 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a flexible core of light transmitting material having an axis in the general direction of light flow through the optical waveguide; a flexible cladding surrounding the core to provide a flexible optical waveguide, the cladding having an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the core, the cladding comprising an inner surface which is roughened with indentations to extract light from the core, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the core and providing a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding, with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations, to produce a light extraction pattern from the waveguide; and a liquid layer between at least a portion of the cladding and the core, the liquid layer having an index of refraction approximately equal to the index of refraction of the core.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 155 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a flexible core of light transmitting material having an axis in the general direction of light flow through the optical waveguide; and a flexible cladding surrounding the core to provide a flexible optical waveguide, the cladding having an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the core, the cladding comprising an inner surface which is roughened with indentations to extract light from the core, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the core and providing a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding, with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations, to produce a light extraction pattern from the waveguide, wherein the indentations comprise a set of one or more spiraling indentations, the spiraling indentations being formed at an angle greater than about 30° to the central axis of the core.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 155 words

An optical waveguide comprising: a flexible core of light transmitting material having an axis in the general direction of light flow through the optical waveguide; and a flexible cladding surrounding the core to provide a flexible optical waveguide, the cladding having an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the core, the cladding comprising an inner surface which is roughened with indentations to extract light from the core, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the core and providing a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding, with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations, to produce a light extraction pattern from the waveguide, wherein the indentations comprise a set of one or more spiraling indentations, the spiraling indentations being formed at an angle greater than about 30° to the central axis of the core.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 149 words

A method of making a flexible optical waveguide with diffuse light extraction, comprising: providing a flexible cladding formed with an axis in the general direction of light flow through the flexible optical waveguide, the cladding comprising a hollow tube with a first end and an inner surface; roughening at least a portion of the inner surface of the cladding by forming indentations in the inner surface, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the cladding, to produce a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations to produce a light extraction pattern; disposing a flexible core material within the cladding; and disposing a liquid between the core and the cladding, the liquid having an index of refraction substantially similar to an index of refraction of the core.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 149 words

A method of making a flexible optical waveguide with diffuse light extraction, comprising: providing a flexible cladding formed with an axis in the general direction of light flow through the flexible optical waveguide, the cladding comprising a hollow tube with a first end and an inner surface; roughening at least a portion of the inner surface of the cladding by forming indentations in the inner surface, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the cladding, to produce a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations to produce a light extraction pattern; disposing a flexible core material within the cladding; and disposing a liquid between the core and the cladding, the liquid having an index of refraction substantially similar to an index of refraction of the core.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 15 , wherein roughening at least a portion of the inner surface of the cladding comprises impacting at least a portion of the inner surface with particles ejected from a delivery unit to form a plurality of randomly-spaced pits in the inner surface of the cladding.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein impacting the inner surface comprises sandblasting the inner surface of the cladding.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein the roughening of the inner surface is varied by varying a velocity at which the particles are ejected.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 205 words

A method of making a flexible optical waveguide with diffuse light extraction, comprising: providing a flexible cladding formed with an axis in the general direction of light flow through the flexible optical waveguide, the cladding comprising a hollow tube with a first end and an inner surface; roughening at least a portion of the inner surface of the cladding by forming indentations in the inner surface, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the cladding, to produce a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations to produce a light extraction pattern, wherein said roughening comprises rotating a member with one or more projections extending from the member, the projections being in contact with the inner surface of the cladding and producing indentations on the inner surface of the cladding as the member rotates, the member also moving laterally down the cladding as the member rotates, wherein the projections form spiral indentations in the inner surface of the cladding, the spiraling indentations being formed at an angle greater than about 30° to the axis; and disposing a flexible core material within the cladding.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 205 words

A method of making a flexible optical waveguide with diffuse light extraction, comprising: providing a flexible cladding formed with an axis in the general direction of light flow through the flexible optical waveguide, the cladding comprising a hollow tube with a first end and an inner surface; roughening at least a portion of the inner surface of the cladding by forming indentations in the inner surface, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the cladding, to produce a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations to produce a light extraction pattern, wherein said roughening comprises rotating a member with one or more projections extending from the member, the projections being in contact with the inner surface of the cladding and producing indentations on the inner surface of the cladding as the member rotates, the member also moving laterally down the cladding as the member rotates, wherein the projections form spiral indentations in the inner surface of the cladding, the spiraling indentations being formed at an angle greater than about 30° to the axis; and disposing a flexible core material within the cladding.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the roughening of the inner surface of the cladding increases with increasing distance from a light receiving end of the optical waveguide, as measured along the core.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein, after the core material is disposed within the cladding, the core material flows around the inner surface of the cladding to generate an outer surface of the core material which is complementary to and in contact with the inner surface of the cladding.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 169 words

A method of making a flexible optical waveguide with diffuse light extraction, comprising: a) providing a flexible cladding formed with an axis in the general direction of light flow through the flexible optical waveguide, the cladding comprising a hollow tube with a first end and an inner surface; b) roughening at least a portion of the inner surface of the cladding by forming indentations in the inner surface, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the cladding, to produce a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations to produce a light extraction pattern, wherein said roughening comprises i) introducing an amount of abrasive particles into the cladding; ii) contacting an outer surface of the cladding with a vibrating device; and (iii) vibrating the cladding so that the abrasive particles roughen the inner surface of the cladding; and c) disposing a flexible core material within the cladding.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 169 words

A method of making a flexible optical waveguide with diffuse light extraction, comprising: a) providing a flexible cladding formed with an axis in the general direction of light flow through the flexible optical waveguide, the cladding comprising a hollow tube with a first end and an inner surface; b) roughening at least a portion of the inner surface of the cladding by forming indentations in the inner surface, the indentations being substantially non-parallel with respect to the axis of the cladding, to produce a plurality of roughened regions along a length of the cladding with at least two of the regions having different degrees of roughness provided by the indentations to produce a light extraction pattern, wherein said roughening comprises i) introducing an amount of abrasive particles into the cladding; ii) contacting an outer surface of the cladding with a vibrating device; and (iii) vibrating the cladding so that the abrasive particles roughen the inner surface of the cladding; and c) disposing a flexible core material within the cladding.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 12 words

An optical waveguide made according to the process of claim 22 .

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-10-08	2005-04-09	2005-10-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-10-08	2009-04-09	2009-10-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-10-08	2013-04-09	2013-10-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optical waveguide with diffuse light extraction

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag