Light Diffusing Optical Fiber Scattering Structures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fibers are not suited for forming extended illumination sources due to minimal light escape from the sides, limiting their application in special lighting and biological applications where uniform illumination is required.
Innovation Solution
A light diffusing optical fiber with a core, cladding, and scattering structures within or surrounding them, designed to scatter light towards the outer surface, achieving a spectral attenuation percent relative range of 15% or less across a diffusion length, allowing for uniform illumination across various wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If optical fibers are designed to efficiently deliver light from one end to the other end over long distances, then light transmission efficiency is improved, but light escape from the sides is minimized, making the fiber unsuitable for forming extended illumination sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces scattering structures at specific locations within the optical fiber (in the core, cladding, or both) to create localized light scattering regions. These structures are positioned at specific radial and longitudinal locations to convert guided light into scattered light that exits the fiber sides, while maintaining overall light transmission efficiency through the fiber length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by combining the standard optical fiber materials (core and cladding) with additional scattering structures. These scattering structures can be formed from materials with different refractive indices or optical properties than the base fiber materials, creating a composite system that simultaneously achieves light transmission and light scattering functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If scattering structures are introduced to enable light diffusion, then the fiber's suitability for illumination sources is improved, but spectral attenuation varies across different wavelengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls and optimizes parameters of the scattering structures, including their size, shape, distribution density, and material properties. By adjusting these parameters, the scattering characteristics are tuned to achieve uniform spectral attenuation across multiple wavelengths, ensuring that the fiber provides uniform illumination without significant wavelength-dependent loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If scattering structures are added to the core or cladding, then light diffusion is enabled, but the fiber manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scattering function into discrete scattering structures that can be individually designed and positioned. These segmented scattering elements are distributed throughout the fiber length and can be formed using established fiber manufacturing techniques, breaking down the complex light diffusion function into manageable structural components.
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 solution enables efficient and uniform light distribution along the length of the optical fiber, suitable for applications requiring flexible and varied lighting, such as special lighting and biomass growth, by maintaining a consistent spectral attenuation and correlated color temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of scattering structures positioned within the core, the cladding, or both the core and the cladding. The plurality of scattering structures are configured to scatter guided light towards the outer surface
Data Source
AI summary
A light diffusing optical fiber includes a core, a cladding surrounding the core, an outer surface, and a plurality of scattering structures positioned within the core, the cladding, or both the core and the cladding. The plurality of scattering structures are configured to scatter guided light towards the outer surface, such that light including a wavelength of from about 450 nm to about 650 nm diffusing through the outer surface along a diffusion length of the light diffusing optical fiber includes a spectral attenuation percent relative range of about 15% or less.