Side Emitting Glass Element with Scattering Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side-emitting glass elements face challenges in achieving efficient and uniform lateral light emission, scalability, and hot formability, with issues such as inefficient light coupling, reduced breaking strength, and color bleed, particularly in rigid glass elements and fibers.
Innovation Solution
A side-emitting glass element comprising interconnected light guiding elements with a phase boundary and scattering elements, where the light guiding elements are not completely fused, allowing for efficient lateral light emission and scalability, and are enveloped by a cladding glass for protection and improved light guiding properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If non-round core geometries are used to produce side emitting fibres, then light coupling-out is enabled, but light guiding efficiency is greatly reduced and breaking strength is greatly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fibre structure into distinct segments: a round core for efficient light guiding and separate scattering regions for light coupling-out. This segmentation allows the core to maintain its circular geometry for strength while introducing side-emitting functionality through controlled scattering zones, resolving the contradiction between side-emitting capability and breaking strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by introducing scattering centers only in specific regions (cladding or at core-cladding interface) rather than throughout the entire core. This localized approach enables side-emitting functionality where needed while preserving the core's structural integrity and breaking strength, avoiding the need to compromise the entire fibre geometry.
2Ease of manufacture
If particles are mixed into the fibre core to reflect and scatter light, then side emission is achieved, but light guiding is attenuated by absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the scattering function from the core and places it in the cladding or at the core-cladding interface. By removing particles from the core and positioning them in the cladding region, the invention eliminates light absorption in the core while maintaining side-emitting capability through scattering at the interface or within the cladding, thus reducing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the core-cladding interface as an intermediary zone for light scattering. Instead of placing scattering particles directly in the core, the interface acts as a mediator that allows light to pass through the core with minimal absorption and then scatter at the boundary, achieving side emission without significant energy loss in the core.
3Reliability
If light is guided at very shallow angles with respect to the cladding, then total reflection is maintained, but side emission coupling-out is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating specific zones with different optical properties at the core-cladding interface. These localized regions with modified refractive indices or scattering centers enable efficient light coupling-out at specific positions without disrupting the overall total reflection condition for light guided at shallow angles, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining total reflection and achieving efficient side emission.
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 targeted control over lateral emission, maintains axial color consistency, and allows for hot processing, resulting in a rigid, efficient, and scalable side-emitting glass element suitable for various applications, including lighting and decorative purposes.
Implementation Method 1
The light guiding effect of light guided in glass elements is based on the principle of total reflection of the guided light at a medium which surrounds the glass element and which has a lower refractive index
Implementation Method 2
at least one scattering element which is inseparably connected to an outer circumferential surface of at least one light guiding element
Data Source
AI summary
Side emitting glass elements are provided that include a plurality of light guiding elements, which are inseparably connected to one another at their outer circumferential surfaces, and at least one scattering element. The scattering element is inseparably connected to the outer circumferential surface of at least one light guiding element. The light guiding elements have at least one glass with a refractive index n1, wherein the individual light guiding elements are not enclosed by a cladding. A phase boundary is present between the light guiding elements through which the guided light can pass and to reach the scattering element.