Patents by Brett Kingstone

A fiber optic light bar and method of manufacturing the same wherein a plurality of spacers having grooves formed therein are wound on a spool as a fiber optic cable is guided around the spool. The spacers have a channel section formed therein which serves to collect the plurality of fiber optic cable strands. The spacers are cut to create an output surface having a plurality of fiber optic cable ends. A cap is attached over the channel and a solid state light source is provided at the input ends of the cables formed by cutting the cable bundle between opposed spacers. Four fiber optic light bar assemblies may be formed by attaching spacers on opposed sides of a winding spool.

A fiber optic cable lateral illumination system comprising a housing having an internal cavity and an aperture communicating the cavity externally of the housing, an optical system located within the internal cavity; the optical system comprising a reflector and a high intensity lamp positioned within the reflector for directing light along an optical axis, a plate of heat absorbing material spaced from the reflector, and at least one color filter spaced from the plate and the reflector; the optical cable including a plurality of optical fibers and a ferrule assembly for supporting the cable to the optical system.

A fiber optic cable suitable for lateral illumination lighting installations has a central core, wrapped perimetrically with angularly distributed bundles of optical fibers and covered with a transparent sheath. In one form, the core includes an outer cylindrical surface of reflective material that deflects inwardly directed lateral emissions back outwardly so they can contribute usefully to the visible light. In another form, the core may be reflective or non-reflective and include material enabling the cable to be bent or formed into various shapes. In still another form, the cable includes in combination an outer channel of opaque material with cutout designs formed in the channel for lateral illumination to shine through. In manufacture, the bundles are wound about the core by a cabling machine which simultaneously extrudes the sheath about the winding. In a modified embodiment, a cable includes an arcuate cutout that mates with a complementary track of a mounting strip. In another form of the modified embodiment, the fiber bundles are provided directly within at least one reflective channel formed integrally within the mounting strip.

A fiber optic cable (10) suitable for lateral illumination lighting installations has a tubular central core (12), wrapped perimetrically with angularly evenly distributed bundles (15) of optical fibers (16) and covered with a transparent sheath (17). The core includes an outer cylindrical surface (14) of reflective material (24) that deflects inwardly directed lateral emissions back outwardly, so they can contribute usefully to the visible light. In manufacture, the bundles are wound about the core by a cabling machine which simultaneously extrudes the sheath about the winding. In a modified embodiment, a cable (10′) includes an arcuate cutout (30) that mates with a complementary track (39, 40) of a mounting strip (35). Strip (35) includes a reflective substance in an area (38) between upper and lower cables (10′) to present a continuous, top to bottom lateral illumination effect. In another form of the modified embodiment, the fiber bundles are provided directly within upper and lower reflective channels (41) formed integrally within the mounting strip.

A light source for illuminating a fiber optic cable comprising a housing having an internal cavity and an aperture communicating said cavity externally of said housing, an optical system located within said internal cavity; said optical system comprising a reflector and a high intensity lamp positioned within said reflector for directing light along an optical axis, a plate of heat absorbing material spaced from said reflector, and at least one color filter spaced from said plate and said reflector.

A process for manufacturing a fiber optic display screen is disclosed where a fiber is guided onto a revolving drum and disposed into input and output clamps located on the surface of the drum. The fiber guiding device allows the fiber to be precisely located on the surface of the drum in a hexagonal offset pattern in corresponding locals in the input and output clamps. The strand is continuously guided over several layers of long thin rectangular slotted spacers until the desired height of the display is created. The fibers between the output spacers are then cut to form two or more rectangular or square shaped fiber optic display screen apparatus. Large display screens can be constructed by placing several sections of these display apparatus together.

A fiber optic cable (10) suitable for lateral illumination lighting installations has a tubular central core (12), wrapped perimetrically with angularly evenly distributed bundles (15) of optical fibers (16) and covered with a transparent sheath (17). The core includes an outer cylindrical surface (14) of reflective material (24) that deflects inwardly directed lateral emissions back outwardly, so they can contribute usefully to the visible light. In manufacture, the bundles are wound about the core by a cabling machine which simultaneously extrudes the sheath about the winding. In a modified embodiment, a cable (10′) includes an arcuate cutout (30) that mates with a complementary track (39, 40) of a mounting strip (35) . Strip (35) includes a reflective substance in an area (38) between upper and lower cables (10′) to present a continuous, top to bottom lateral illumination effect. In another form of the modified embodiment, the fiber bundles are provided directly within upper and lower reflective channels (41) formed integrally within the mounting strip.