The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 19, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 22, 1996
Chingfa Chen, West Covina, CA (US);
Kenneth K Li, Arcadia, CA (US);
Douglas M Brenner, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Cogent Light Technologies, Inc., Santa Clarita, CA (US);
Abstract
A device which adjusts the angle of illumination of light exiting a fiber optic light guide. A first light guide has a first numerical aperture for emitting light from a light source, and light exiting the first light guide has a first light intensity angular profile. A second light guide has a second numerical aperture for receiving the light from the first light guide, and light exiting the second light guide has a second light intensity angular profile. Light from the first light guide is dispersed by a device including at least a first surface interposed between the first light guide and the second light guide such that light from the first light guide having the first light intensity profile irradiates the first surface and the angular intensity profile of the light irradiating the second light guide is modified so as to cause the second light intensity angular profile to be modified. The first light guide preferably has a single fiber, and the second light guide preferably has a fiber bundle. The dispersion is preferably be effected with a GRIN lens and a fiber bundle having an angled endface, or with a GRIN lens, a fixed fiber bundle having an angled endface and a rotatable fiber bundle having an angled endface.