Abstract:
Remote source lighting methods and apparatus are provided that may be used individually or in any combination, preferably with LED illuminators used with side emitting optical fibers. In some instances, illuminators comprising multiple LEDs pointing in different directions as described herein are used as remote light sources. In some instances, remote lighting apparatus are used to illuminate all or portions of vehicles, building members, building materials, articles of clothing, and/or pieces of furniture. In some instances, remote lighting apparatus are used to illuminate apparatus that include but are not necessarily limited to wheelchairs, golf carts, baby carriages, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles, tanks, submarines, shoes, jackets, vests, hats, helmets, baby cribs, floors, walls, ceilings, countertops, tiles and wood.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. application No. 60/471,128, filed May 16, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The field of the invention is remote source lighting.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Remote source lighting systems and methods such as the use of fiber optic and/or prism guides to transmit light are known and provide numerous advantages over more traditional lighting systems and methods. However, known remote source lighting apparatus and methods can still be improved to better achieve such advantages. As such, there is a continuing need for improvements to remote source lighting apparatus and methods.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    In accordance with this invention, remote source lighting methods and apparatus are provided that may be used individually or in any combination. In preferred embodiments, remote source lighting apparatus and methods include light emitting diode (LED) illuminators used with side emitting optical fibers.  
           [0005]    In accordance with an aspect of this invention, optical fibers are coupled to apparatus by forming a channel in a surface of the apparatus  
           [0006]    In accordance with an aspect of this invention, illuminators comprising multiple LEDs pointing in different directions as described herein are used as remote light sources.  
           [0007]    In accordance with an aspect of this invention, illuminators having a cavity adapted to receive the end of an optical fiber where the cavity has a diameter or width smaller than the exterior diameter or width of the fiber to be received are used.  
           [0008]    In accordance with an aspect of this invention, tools are used to reduce and roughen the exterior diameter of optical fibers prior to coupling such optical fibers to illuminators.  
           [0009]    In accordance with an aspect of this invention, lighting methods and apparatus are used to illuminate all or portions of vehicles, building members, building materials, articles of clothing and/or pieces of furniture may be particularly enhanced by having a side emitting optical fiber integrated into them. Such apparatus may include but are not necessarily limited to wheelchairs, golf carts, baby carriages, bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles, tanks, submarines, shoes, jackets, vests, hats, helmets, baby cribs, floors, walls, ceilings, counter tops, tiles, and wood. If optical fibers are integrated into building structures, they may be used to define one or more paths between locations.  
           [0010]    In accordance with an aspect of this invention, remote source lighting systems and methods described herein will comprise or use one or more illuminators powered by one or more of a variety of power sources. Such power sources may comprise any type of power source but it is contemplated that in some instances such power sources will comprise one or more of the following: power provided by a power company; locally generated/converted power; and/or stored power. As examples, household/line voltage may be provided via a standard wall outlet, locally generated/converted power may be provided via one or more photoelectric cells or inductive coils, and stored power may be provided by one or more batteries and/or capacitors. In some instances, it is desirable that the power source be adequate to power any illuminators it is coupled to continuously for weeks, months, or even years at a time.  
           [0011]    In accordance with an aspect of this invention, at least some remote source lighting systems and methods described herein will comprise or use means for switching illuminators on or off wherein such means comprise one or more motion detectors, photo-electric sensors, and/or any means for sensing the presence of a person.  
           [0012]    In accordance with an aspect of this invention, at least some remote source lighting systems and methods described herein will comprise one or more single and/or multiple color LEDs including but not necessarily limited to red LEDs, blue LEDs, green LEDs, yellow LEDs, RGB LEDs and LED clusters.  
           [0013]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a remote source lighting (RSL) system.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a RSL system.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a RSL system.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a RSL system.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4B is a cutaway view of a light guide.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4C is a cutaway view of a light guide.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4D is a perspective view of a light guide.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4E is a perspective view of a light guide.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4F is a perspective view of a light guide.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of a linear bi-directional illuminator.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of a perpendicular bi-directional illuminator.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of a linear bi-directional LED illuminator.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a cutaway view of a perpendicular bi-directional LED illuminator.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a cutaway view of a uni-directional LED illuminator.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 10 is a cutaway view of a reflecting end cap.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 11 is a cutaway view of an optical fiber coupled to an illuminator.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 12A is a side view of an optical fiber.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 12B is a side view of the optical fiber of FIG. 12A having a reduced end diameter.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 12C is an end view of the fiber of FIG. 12B.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 13A is a side view of a fiber diameter reduction tool.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 13B is a front view of the tool of the tool of FIG. 13A.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 13C is atop view of the tool of FIG. 13A.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 13D is a cutaway side view of the tool of FIG. 13A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0037]    RLSs  
         [0038]    In FIG. 1, a remote source lighting system (RSL system)  100  comprises an illuminator  110  coupled to a light guide  120  and a power source  190  via a power conductor assembly  191 . In preferred embodiments illuminator  110  is an LED illuminator, light guide  120  is a side emitting optical fiber, and power source  190  is any power source suitable for providing power to illuminator  110 . Power conductor assembly  191  comprises one or more conductors that transmit power and possibly control signals between power source  190  and illuminator  110 .  
         [0039]    RSL systems may comprise multiple light guides, multiple illuminators, multiple power sources, and/or multiple illuminators. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate two alternative embodiments of RSL systems. In FIG. 2, RSL system  200  comprises illuminator  210 , light guides  220 A and  220 B, end caps  230 A and  230 B, power source  290  and power conductor assembly  291 . In FIG. 3, RSL system  300  comprises illuminators  310 A- 310 D, light guides  320 A- 320 D, power sources  390 A- 390 D, and power conductor assemblies  391 A- 391 E.  
         [0040]    As show in FIG. 3, a power source may be a device such as  390 A that receives power from another source such as  390 C, or may be a incorporated into an illuminator such as power source  390 D incorporated into illuminator  310 D. If incorporated into an illuminator, a power source will generally comprise a form of stored energy such as can be provided by a battery or capacitor. If it receives power from another source, a power source ( 390 A) may be used to convert and control the power from the other source ( 390 C). In such instances source  390 C may an electrical utility company, a local generator, a bank of photovoltaic sells, a wind turbine, or any other type of power source, and source  390 A a transformer, control circuit, or any other form of power converter and/or controller. In some instances a first power source ( 390 A) may be used to supplement a second power source ( 390 C).  
         [0041]    RSL systems may comprise different types of light guides. Essentially any light guide capable of transmitting and emitting light from a light source may be used. Any such light emitted by light guide  120  may be emitted uniformly along the length of guide  120 , or may be emitted in at regular or varying intensities and/or at regular or irregular intervals along the length of guide  120 .  
         [0042]    In some instances, light guides will utilize a gaseous mixture such as air as a transmission medium while in other instances the transmission medium may comprise a super cooled liquid such as glass, or a solid such as a transparent or translucent (non-opaque) plastic. In some instances light guides will stand alone while in other instances they will be incorporated into larger structures. FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate light guides incorporated into larger structures. In FIG. 4A, a RSL system  400  comprises an emitter  410  and a light guide  420  where light guide  420  comprises a channel  431 A cut into body  430 A. Although the channel of FIG. 4A has a rectangular cross section, other channel shapes may be used as well as is illustrated in FIG. 4B where light guide  420 B comprises channel  4311 B in body  430 B and channel  4311 B intersects a surface of body  430 B at slit  432 B.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4C illustrates a light guide  420 C incorporated into body  430 C wherein the light guide comprises channel  431 C, slit  432 C, core  421 C, cladding  422 C, and window  432 C. The light guide of FIG. 4C differs from that of FIGS. 4A and 4B in that it incorporates a non-gaseous core in channel  431 C. The use of a non-gaseous core is advantageous in non-linear light guides as it facilitates transmission of light along the length of a guide that isn&#39;t laid out as a straight line. Cladding  422 C may be adapted to facilitate transmission of light along core  421 C and/or may facilitate retaining core  421 C within channel  431 C. If intended to seal core  421 C into channel  431 C, cladding  422 C may advantageously comprise epoxy, silicon glue, and/or some type of pliable adhesive and/or bonding material used to fill the space between core  421 C and the wall(s) of channel  431 C. Window  432 C may simply be an open area in slit  432 C or may comprise a non-opaque material that permits light emitted from core  431 C to pass through slit  432 C.  
         [0044]    If a light guide comprises a non-gaseous core, a supporting structure may not be necessary. As shown in FIG. 4D, a light guide  420 D may simply comprise a non-opaque core  421 D. In some instances, even without a supporting structure, a light guide may utilize a cladding material enclosing a core such as in FIGS. 4E and 4F. In FIG. 4E, light guide  420 E comprises a core  421 E and cladding  422 E. In FIG. 4F, light guide  420 F comprises core  421 F, cladding  422 F, and windows  424 . Windows  424  function to allow light emitted by core  421 F to pass through cladding  422 E. Windows  424  may simply comprise openings in cladding  422 F or may be openings in cladding  422 F filled with a non-opaque material.  
         [0045]    RSL systems may comprise different types of illuminators. As such, an illuminator ( 110  in FIG. 1, 210 in FIG. 2,  310 A- 310 D in FIG. 3, and  410  in FIG. 4A) may comprise any appropriate light source such as an LED, laser, light bulb, laser diode, etc. In preferred embodiments illuminators will be LED illuminators that use one or more LEDs as a light source.  
         [0046]    I. Bi-Directional Illuminators  
         [0047]    In many applications a bi-directional illuminator (BDI), an illuminator comprising at least two light sources emitting light in different directions, can be advantageously used to couple multiple light guides together as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, illuminators  310 A- 310 C are each a BDI. Linear BDI  310 A comprises two light sources pointing in opposite directions and is particularly well adapted for use when an RLS systems comprises multiple light guides arranged linearly. In comparison, BDIs  310 B and  310 C comprise light sources that are not oriented along a common line but which are directed perpendicular to each other as in perpendicular BDI  310 B, or non-linearly and non-perpendicularly as in angled BDI  310 C. It is contemplated that the use of BDIs and multiple light guides may be used to provide the appearance one or more long light guides without the incurring the problems in light distribution typically encountered with such long light guides.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIGS. 5-10 illustrate illuminators and end-caps suitable for use as shown in FIGS. 1-3. In FIG. 5, illuminator  510  comprises two light sources,  513 A and  513 B oriented to emit light in opposite directions along axis  5 - 5 . In addition to light sources  513 A and  513 B, illuminator  510  comprises cylindrical housing  511 , input connector  512 , light source controllers  514 A and  514 B, conductors  515 A and  515 B electrically coupling light source controllers  514 A and  514 B to input connector  512 , and light guide receiving cavities  519 A and  519 B.  
         [0049]    In FIG. 6, perpendicular bi-directional illuminator  610  comprises two light sources,  613 A and  613 B oriented to emit light along two perpendicular axis BA 2  and BA 3 . In addition to light sources  613 A and  613 B, illuminator  610  comprises housing  611 , input connector  612 , controller  614 , conductors  615 A,  615 B and  615 C electrically coupling light sources  613 A and  613 B to controller  614  and controller  614  to input connector  612 , and also comprises light guide receiving cavities  619 A and  619 B.  
         [0050]    In FIG. 7, LED illuminator  710  comprises two LEDs  713 A and  713 B oriented to emit light in opposite directions along axis BA 4 . In addition to LEDs  713 A and  713 B, illuminator  710  comprises cylindrical housing  711 , resistors  716 A and  716 B, and two-conductor wire  791 .  
         [0051]    In FIG. 8; perpendicular bi-directional illuminator  710  comprises two LEDs  713 A and  713 B oriented to emit light along two perpendicular axis BA 5  and BA 6 . In addition to LEDs  713 A and  713 B, illuminator  710  comprises housing  711 , resistors  716 A and  716 B, and two-conductor wire  791 .  
         [0052]    In FIG. 9, unidirectional LED illuminator  810  comprises a single LED  813 , housing  811 , light guide receiving cavity  819 , resistor  816 , and two-conductor wire  891 .  
         [0053]    In FIG. 10, reflecting end-cap  910  comprises housing  911 , reflecting surface  918 , and light guide receiving cavity  919 .  
         [0054]    II. Coupling Methods  
         [0055]    RSL systems may utilize different methods for coupling illuminators to light guides to permit the illuminators to transmit light through the light guides. However, a preferred method of coupling light guides to illuminators when the light guide is a fiber optic cable is to reduce the diameter or width of an end of the fiber optic and to insert the reduced end into a portion of the illuminator adapted to receive such an end. In some instances the end will simply be pressed into the illuminator while in other instances it will be adhesively or otherwise fastened within the illuminator. FIG. 11 illustrates a reduced end diameter optical fiber  950  coupled to illuminator  951 . Illuminator  951  comprises a light source  952  oriented to transmit light into the end  953  of fiber  954  inserted into illuminator  951 . It should be noted that, as shown, the diameter of end  953  is smaller than that of the most of the body  955  of fiber  954 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate how an optical fiber may be modified in preparation for it being coupled to an illuminator. FIG. 12A shows an optical fiber  960  having an end  961  that is the same diameter as the rest of fiber  960 . The same fiber and end are illustrated in FIGS. 12B and 12C after the diameter of end  961  has been reduced such that it is smaller than that of body  962 .  
         [0057]    When a method requiring that the end of a fiber optic cable be reduced in size is used, it is preferably to use a tool adapted to that purposed. As shown in FIGS. 13A-13D a tool  970  comprises a body  971  having at least one fiber receiving cavity  972 . Cavity  970  may extend either partially into or fully through the body  971  and is preferably lined with a mechanism  973  for removing a portion of a fiber optic cable inserted into the cavity. Such a mechanism  973  might comprise a number of thin wires projecting towards the center of the cavity from the wall of the cavity similar to bristles on a brush. Rotating the fiber and the tool relative to each other such that the tool essentially rotates about the fiber will cause the wires to remove portions of the fiber. Moreover, because the fiber is reduced in size by abrasion, the resultant surface will be substantially rougher than the original surface of the fiber and will thus be better adapted for being adhesively bonded to an illuminator.