Light Diffusing Optical Fiber with Nano-Structures for Uniform Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fibers are not well-suited for forming extended illumination sources due to their design for efficient light delivery over long distances, resulting in limited light escape from the sides, which is inadequate for applications like special lighting and biological growth where uniform light distribution is needed.
Innovation Solution
The development of light diffusing optical fibers with nano-sized structures within the core or at the core-cladding boundary, which scatter guided light away from the core and through the outer surface, creating a uniform radiation source with high scattering-induced attenuation, allowing for flexible and varied illumination patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional optical fibers are designed for efficient light delivery over long distances, then light transmission efficiency is improved, but light escape from the sides is limited making them unsuitable for extended illumination sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing nano-sized structures (voids or high refractive index regions) specifically within the core or at the core-cladding boundary of the optical fiber. These localized structures create regions of enhanced light scattering without affecting the entire fiber structure, allowing selective light diffusion at specific locations while maintaining overall transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous materials by incorporating a plurality of nano-sized voids (air holes) within the core or at the core-cladding boundary. These voids create refractive index differences that scatter light effectively, enabling the fiber to function as an extended light source while maintaining structural integrity and optical performance.
2Productivity
If optical fibers are designed to deliver light efficiently over long distances, then light delivery performance is improved, but uniform light distribution along the fiber length deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By placing nano-sized structures specifically at the core-cladding boundary or within the core region, the patent creates localized scattering centers that uniformly distribute light along the fiber length. This localized modification ensures consistent light emission characteristics throughout the fiber while preserving overall light delivery efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the refractive index distribution through the introduction of nano-sized voids or high refractive index regions. This changes the optical parameters of the fiber core, enabling controlled light scattering and uniform radiation distribution along the fiber length while maintaining efficient light delivery.
3Illumination intensity
If nano-sized structures are introduced to scatter light and create uniform illumination, then illumination uniformity is improved, but scattering-induced attenuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses porous materials (nano-sized voids) to create scattering centers that produce uniform illumination. The careful control of void size, density, and distribution allows achieving desired illumination uniformity while managing scattering-induced attenuation through optimized structural parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining regions with different refractive indices (core with nano-structures and cladding) to create a composite optical structure. This composite design enables controlled light scattering for uniform illumination while managing energy loss through optimized material composition and structural configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The light diffusing optical fibers provide uniform illumination along their length with reduced wavelength dependence and low variation in scattering loss, enabling efficient light delivery to remote locations and flexible illumination shapes, suitable for applications such as biological growth and special lighting.
Implementation Method 1
The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via said nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A
Figure 3B~3C
AI summary
An illumination system generating light having a light source at at least one wavelength within 200 nm and an optical fiber (12) with a plurality of nano-sized structures (32) (e.g., voids). The optical fiber coupled to the light source. The light diffusing optical fiber has a core (12) and a cladding (40). The plurality of nano-sized structures is situated either within said core or at a core- cladding boundary. The optical fiber also includes an outer surface (48). The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via the nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, to form a light- source fiber portion having a length that emits substantially uniform radiation over its length, said fiber having a scattering- induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength (s) within 200 nm to 2000nm range.