Patent ID: 6799880
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
An illumination device comprising:(a) a light source; (b) a light fiber comprising: an elongate polymeric core having an input end for receiving light from the light source, an output end for emitting light transmitted through the core, and a lateral surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the core between the input end and the output end; a light-emitting region directing light traveling through the light fiber out of at least a portion of the lateral surface of the light fiber, the light-emitting region comprising at least one optical element, wherein the optical element comprises an indentation formed in the core by an embossing process; and a continuous outer cladding layer comprising a polymeric material having a lower index of refraction than the core extending over the lateral surface of the core and the at least one optical element; wherein the light fiber is optically coupled to the light source such that at least a portion of the light emitted from the light source impinges on the input end of the light fiber.