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:
Jul. 09, 2002
Filed:
Jun. 05, 2000
Masaichi Shikata, Hyogo, JP;
Yasuo Nakajima, Hyogo, JP;
Shizuki Electric Company, Inc., Nishinomiya, JP;
Abstract
Disclosed are several embodiments of devices for improving the performance of optical fiber displays. A light-absorbing material is used to reduce reflected light and glare from the surface of an optical display that uses a diffusion sheet or sheets to increase the viewing angle of the display. A surface of each diffusion sheet is covered by the light-absorbing material except in those locations where there is an optical fiber or other light source. Further, the invention uses diamond and triangle shaped sheets to increase the tolerance in applying the diffusion sheets and reduce the non-uniformities such as air trapped between the sheets and the surface, partially covered optical fibers, overlapping diffusion sheets. A preferred embodiment also improves the performance of the optical fibers by coating them with a light-absorbing material to reduce crosstalk and interference between fibers and alternately by coating them with a reflective material which reduces both transmission losses and crosstalk between fibers. Further, fiber performance is improved using a by holding the ends of the fibers straight for a specified distance from each of their ends.