Flat optical fiber light emitters

Abstract

Light emitters are made of one or more cladded flat optical fibers having opposite flat sides and disruptions along at least a portion of the length of the fibers to cause light entering at least one end to be emitted from at least one side. The ends of the flat optical fibers may have substantially the same thickness as a light source and a width substantially equal to or substantially greater than the width of the light source for ease of optically coupling one or more such light sources to the flat optical fiber ends.

1 . A light emitter comprising a plurality of flat optical fibers each having opposite flat sides and opposite side edges and opposite ends, the fibers being disposed in a common plane in side-by-side relation to one another, at least one surface mount light source optically coupled to an end of each of the fibers, each light source having substantially the same thickness as each of the fibers to which each light source is optically coupled, each of the fibers having a light conducting core that is cladded by an outer cladding to keep light in for conducting light entering the end of the fibers, and disruptions along at least a portion of the length of the fibers to cause conducted light to be emitted from at least one side of each of the fibers. 
   
   
       2 . The light emitter of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of light sources each having substantially the same thickness and substantially less width than at least some of the fibers are optically coupled to an end of at least some of the fibers in side-by-side relation to one another across the width of at least some of the fibers. 
   
   
       3 . The light emitter of  claim 1  wherein the disruptions are deformities on or in both sides of each of the fibers. 
   
   
       4 . The light emitter of  claim 1  in combination with a keypad having a plurality of rows of keys, the fibers having gaps between the fibers corresponding to the spacing between the plurality of rows of the keys so the fibers extend between the plurality of rows of the keys, the fibers having disruptions in spaced apart portions of their length corresponding to the spacing between at least some of the keys in each row for backlighting at least some of the keys in each row. 
   
   
       5 . The light emitter of  claim 1  wherein the end of at least one of the fibers is lens shaped. 
   
   
       6 . The light emitter of  claim 5  wherein the end of the at least one fiber is transversely rounded across the width of the fiber. 
   
   
       7 . The light emitter of  claim 1  wherein the end of at least one of the fibers has a lens shape intermediate the width of the fiber. 
   
   
       8 . The light emitter of  claim 7  wherein the lens shape is recessed within the end of the at least one fiber. 
   
   
       9 . The light emitter of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the fibers are held together by an adhesive film. 
   
   
       10 . The light emitter of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the fibers are held together by mechanical clips or fasteners. 
   
   
       11 . A light emitter comprising at least one flat optical fiber having opposite flat sides and opposite side edges and opposite ends, at least one surface mount light source having substantially the same thickness as the fiber optically coupled to an end of the fiber, the fiber having a light conducting core that is cladded by an outer cladding to keep light in for conducting light entering the end of the fiber, disruptions along at least a portion of the length of the fiber to cause conducted light to be emitted from at least one side of the fiber, and a heat sink in close proximity to the light source adjacent the end of the fiber for cooling the light source. 
   
   
       12 . The light emitter of  claim 11  wherein the light source is surface mounted on a flex circuit in close proximity to the end of the fiber. 
   
   
       13 . A light emitter comprising at least one flat optical fiber having opposite flat sides and opposite side edges and opposite ends, at least one light source optically coupled to an end of the fiber, the fiber having a light conducting core that is cladded by an outer cladding to keep light in for conducting light entering the end of the fiber, disruptions along at least a portion of the length of the fiber to cause conducted light to be emitted from at least one side of the fiber, and a hole extending through opposite sides of the at least one fiber intermediate the side edges downstream of the light source to permit access to opposite sides of the light emitter through the hole without interfering with conduction of light from the light source through the fiber downstream of the hole. 
   
   
       14 . A light emitter comprising at least one flat optical fiber having opposite flat sides and opposite side edges and opposite ends, at least one surface mount light source having substantially the same thickness as the fiber optically coupled to an end of the fiber, the fiber having a light conducting core that is cladded by an outer cladding to keep light in for conducting light entering the end of the fiber, disruptions along at least a portion of the length of the fiber to cause conducted light to be emitted from at least one side of the fiber, the light emitter being in combination with a medical instrument, the at least one fiber extending along at least a portion of the length of the medical instrument for lighting an area adjacent the medical instrument, the fiber being flexed to correspond to a non-planar shape of the medical instrument. 
   
   
       15 . A light emitter comprising at least one flat optical fiber having opposite flat sides and opposite side edges and opposite ends, at least one surface mount light source having substantially the same thickness as the fiber optically coupled to an end of the fiber, the fiber having a light conducting core that is cladded by an outer cladding to keep light in for conducting light entering the end of the fiber, and disruptions along at least a portion of the length of the fiber to cause conducted light to be emitted from at least one side of the fiber, the at least one light source having a substantially less width than the fiber. 
   
   
       16 . The light emitter of  claim 15  wherein a plurality of surface mount light sources each having substantially the same thickness as the fiber and substantially less width than the fiber are optically coupled to the end of the fiber in side-by-side relation to one another across the width of the fiber. 
   
   
       17 . The light emitter of  claim 15  wherein the light source is attached to an end of the fiber by a mechanical clip or fastener. 
   
   
       18 . The light emitter of  claim 15  further comprising a heat sink for cooling the light source. 
   
   
       19 . A light emitter comprising at least one flat cladded optical fiber having opposite flat sides and opposite side edges and ends, at least one of the ends being adapted to receive light from a light source for conduction of the light within the fiber, the fiber having deformities in at least one of the sides to cause conducted light to be emitted from at least one of the sides, and a coating in intimate contact with at least one of the sides. 
   
   
       20 . The light emitter of  claim 19  wherein the coating is a reflective coating that causes light emitted from the one side to be reflected back toward the other side. 
   
   
       21 . The light emitter of  claim 19  wherein the deformities are in both sides of the fiber, and the coating is a reflective coating that is in intimate contact with one of the sides to cause light emitted from the one side to be reflected back toward the other side. 
   
   
       22 . The light emitter of  claim 19  wherein the coating completely covers one of the sides, and only partially covers the other side leaving open areas on the other side through which the conducted light is emitted. 
   
   
       23 . The light emitter of  claim 19  further comprising at least one surface mount light source optically coupled to an end of the fiber, the light source having a thickness substantially corresponding to the thickness of the fiber and having a width equal to or less than the width of the fiber. 
   
   
       24 . The light emitter of  claim 23  wherein a plurality of surface mount light sources are optically coupled to an end of the fiber, each of the light sources having a width substantially less than the width of the fiber.