Patent US4460940A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4460940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for uniform illumination employing light diffuser
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-11-02
•
Granted: 1984-07-17
•
Expires: 2002-11-02
Abstract
Abstract A light diffusing device and an illumination apparatus employing the light diffusing device, the light diffusing device including a light transmission element and a light diffusing layer carried on and different in refractive index from the light transmission element, whereby light comes out from the device through the light diffusing layer. A number of such light diffusing layers are arranged in the light diffusing device of the illumination apparatus. The diffusing layers are provided with thicknesses which are different from each other or, otherwise, arranged to a density which varies along the device, thereby illuminating a desired object uniformly as a whole.
Inventors
- 👤 Kei Mori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:34
CPC Classifications
G; G12; G12B; G12B11/00; G12B11/02; G01; G01D; G01D11/00; G01D11/28; F; F21; F21Y; F21Y2115/00; F21Y2115/10; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A light diffusing device comprising: a light transmission element for transmitting light emitted from a light source; and a plurality of discrete light diffusing layers positioned at spaced locations on a surface of said light transmission element, each of said light diffusing layers diffusing and discharging to the outside of said light transmission element only light component having a specific wavelength which is contained in the light propagating through said light transmission element, at least one of said light diffusing layers having a convex lens configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A light diffusing device comprising: a light transmission element for transmitting light emitted from a light source; and a plurality of discrete light diffusing layers positioned at spaced locations on a surface of said light transmission element, each of said light diffusing layers diffusing and discharging to the outside of said light transmission element only light component having a specific wavelength which is contained in the light propagating through said light transmission element, at least one of said light diffusing layers having a convex lens configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the light transmission element is made of optical fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the light diffusing layers are made of epoxy resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the light diffusing layers are made of silicon resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the light diffusing layers has a flat configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the light diffusing layers comprises a single-layer structure having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the light transmission element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 1, in which there holds a ratio n.sub.1 /n.sub.0 =0.87 to 1.3 where n 0 is the refractive index of the light transmission element and n 1 the refractive index of the light diffusing element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the light diffusing layers comprises a multi-layer structure made up of a plurality of layers having refractive indexes different from each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 8, in which the plurality of layers are combined to form said convex lens configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
A light diffusing device comprising: a light transmission element for transmitting light emitted from a light source; and a plurality of discrete light diffusing layers positioned at spaced locations on a surface of said light transmission element, each of said light diffusing layers diffusing and discharging to the outside of said light transmission element only light component having a specific wavelength which is contained in the light propagating through said light transmission element, at least one of said light diffusing layers having a concave lens configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A light diffusing device comprising: a light transmission element for transmitting light emitted from a light source; and a plurality of discrete light diffusing layers positioned at spaced locations on a surface of said light transmission element, each of said light diffusing layers diffusing and discharging to the outside of said light transmission element only light component having a specific wavelength which is contained in the light propagating through said light transmission element, at least one of said light diffusing layers having a concave lens configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 10, in which at least one of the light diffusing layers comprises a single-layer structure having a refractive index different from the refractive index of said light transmission element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 10, in which at least one of the light diffusing layers comprises a multi-layer structure made up of a plurality of layers having refractive indexes different from each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The light diffusing device as claimed in claim 12, in which the plurality of light diffusing layers are combined to form said concave lens configuration.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for uniformly illuminating a desired object comprising: a light source for emitting light for illumination; a light transmission element through which light emitted from said light source propagates; and a plurality of light diffusing members located on part of the surfaces of said light transmission element and having a refractive index different from that of said light transmission element, said light diffusing members diffusing and discharging to the outside of said light transmission element the light propagating through said light transmission element, said light diffusing members having thicknesses which are different from each other with the light diffusing member of largest thickness being closest to said light source and the light diffusing member of smallest thickness being farthest from said light source, said light diffusing members progressively decreasing in thickness in inverse proportion to the distance of the respective light diffusing member from said light source.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for uniformly illuminating a desired object comprising: a light source for emitting light for illumination; a light transmission element through which light emitted from said light source propagates; and a plurality of light diffusing members located on part of the surfaces of said light transmission element and having a refractive index different from that of said light transmission element, said light diffusing members diffusing and discharging to the outside of said light transmission element the light propagating through said light transmission element, said light diffusing members having thicknesses which are different from each other with the light diffusing member of largest thickness being closest to said light source and the light diffusing member of smallest thickness being farthest from said light source, said light diffusing members progressively decreasing in thickness in inverse proportion to the distance of the respective light diffusing member from said light source.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for uniformly illuminating a desired object comprising: a light source for emitting light for illumination; a light transmission element through which light emitted from said light source propagates; and a plurality of light diffusing members located on part of the surfaces of said light transmission element and having a refractive index different from that of said light transmission element, said light diffusing members diffusing and discharging to the outside of said light transmission element the light propagating through said light transmission element, all of said light diffusing members having the same thickness, each of said light diffusing members having a density different from one another with the light diffusing member of least density being closest to said light source and the light diffusing member of greatest density being farthest from said light source, said light diffusing members progressively increasing in density in proportion to the distance of the respective light diffusing member from said light source.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for uniformly illuminating a desired object comprising: a light source for emitting light for illumination; a light transmission element through which light emitted from said light source propagates; and a plurality of light diffusing members located on part of the surfaces of said light transmission element and having a refractive index different from that of said light transmission element, said light diffusing members diffusing and discharging to the outside of said light transmission element the light propagating through said light transmission element, all of said light diffusing members having the same thickness, each of said light diffusing members having a density different from one another with the light diffusing member of least density being closest to said light source and the light diffusing member of greatest density being farthest from said light source, said light diffusing members progressively increasing in density in proportion to the distance of the respective light diffusing member from said light source.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3131496A
Cited
US3222515A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-17 | 1988-01-16 | 1988-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-17 | 1992-01-16 | 1992-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-17 | 1996-01-16 | 1996-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |