Fabric with active illumination and reflection characteristics

Abstract

A woven fabric with active illumination and reflection characteristics is described. Light guiding fibers are used as the weft, bright threads are used as the warp, and the warp and the weft are interwoven, or partial lengths of the light guiding fibers are not interwoven with the bright threads. The light-emitting woven fabric has light guiding fibers and bright threads as the weft, and bright threads as the warp, the weft and the warp being interwoven, or partial lengths of the light guiding fibers not being interwoven with the bright threads.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 93113702, filed May 14, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a type of fabric, particularly to a type of illuminative fabric consisting of bright thread and light guiding fibers. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] There are two lighting systems for nighttime illumination, decorative or warning systems. One is a passive, light-reflective device reflecting foreign light source for warning purposes without consuming power. Generally, the passive light-reflecting device consists of plastic light-reflective strips or light-reflective plates. These, however are made of hard materials, and do not provide light when no light source is available from the ambient environment. [0006] Another system is an active light-emitting device...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a type of fabric with active illumination and reflection characteristics. The fabric of the present invention is capable of providing active illumination at a location where sufficient lighting is lacking, and providing concentrated lighting by light reflection characteristics.

[0009] It is another an objective of the present invention to provide a lightweight, flexible and portable fabric with active illumination and passive reflection characteristics for the production of clothing, decorative articles, bulletin boards, and warning devices.

[0014] The fabric with active illumination and reflection characteristics of the present invention uses weft light guiding fibers connected with light sources to provide active lighting, as well as light reflecting bright threads, the bright threads themselves and the plane composed of interwoven bright threads serving to reflect a foreign light source, and meanwhile reflecting the light projected from the light guiding fibers, causing the light to concentrate on a same side to achieve the purpose of concentrated and consistent lighting distribution. On the other hand, the present invention uses bright threads inserted between the light guiding fibers in the weft for lightness and flexibility.

Problems solved by technology

These, however are made of hard materials, and do not provide light when no light source is available from the ambient environment.

Such device has a high luminosity and is free from environmental restrictions, but is not suitable for use on garments or decorations for warning or decorative purposes, because it has sophisticated construction and is bulky and expensive.

But the side-light fibers do not have sufficient flexibility and consistent lighting distribution, and do not allow sufficient curvature.

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