Flexible optical device

Abstract

A flexible and optionally highly elastic waveguide capable of propagating and emitting light is disclosed. The flexible waveguide comprises a flexible material having a surface and an end, wherein a first portion of the light is emitted through at least a portion of the surface of the flexible waveguide, and a second portion of the light is emitted through the end. The flexible waveguide can be used, for example as an area illuminator for many applications. Additionally disclosed is a clothing device for providing illumination. The clothing device comprises clothing (or even optionally a sheet) and a light source for providing light. In one embodiment the clothing device comprises the flexible waveguide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of guiding light, comprising:
 propagating source light through a waveguide sheet having a surface and an end;   emitting a portion of said source light through at least a portion of said surface, wherein said waveguide sheet comprises a waveguide material having therein particles being sensitive to an electromagnetic field and being selected to allow said emission of said portion of said source light; and   exposing said particles to an electromagnetic field other than said source light to effect a change in a color and/or amount of said emitted portion of said source light.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said particles comprise scatterers. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a few of said particles are capable of producing different optical responses to different wavelengths of said light. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said different optical responses comprises different emission wavelengths. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said particles comprise fluorophore molecules. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said particles comprise a dielectric material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said particles comprise a metallic material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said particles comprise discrete fluorochromes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of particles comprises a plurality of chromogenes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of particles comprises a plurality of discrete quantum dots. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of particles comprises a plurality of nanocrystals. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said waveguide material is designed and constructed to allow propagation of a portion of said light therein by total internal reflection. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said exposing said particles to said electromagnetic field comprises exposing said particles to an electromagnetic field other than any light. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said exposing said particles to said electromagnetic field comprises exposing said particles to an electromagnetic field in the visible range. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said exposing said particles to said electromagnetic field comprises exposing said particles to an electromagnetic field in the non-visible range 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said exposing said particles to said electromagnetic field comprises exposing said particles to an electromagnetic field in the infrared range. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said exposing said particles to said electromagnetic field comprises exposing said particles to an electromagnetic field in the ultraviolet range. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said waveguide material is a layered structure and wherein said particles are distributed in at least one layer of said layered structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said waveguide material comprises at least three layers and wherein said particles are distributed in an intermediate layer of said at least three layers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said waveguide material is a layered structure and wherein said particles are distributed in an outer layer of said layered structure. 
     
     
         21 . A waveguide system, comprising:
 a flexible waveguide sheet having a surface and an end; and   a light source, optically coupled to said waveguide sheet and configured for coupling source light into said waveguide sheet;   wherein said waveguide sheet comprises a waveguide material configured to guide said source light and having therein particles selected to allow emission of a portion of said source light through at least a portion of said surface; and   wherein at least a few of said particles are sensitive to electromagnetic field such that a change in electromagnetic field other than said source light results in a change in at least an amount of source light emitted from said surface.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said particles comprise scatterers. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein at least a few of said particles are capable of producing different optical responses to different wavelengths of said light. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said different optical responses comprises different emission wavelengths. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said particles comprise fluorophore molecules. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said particles comprise a dielectric material. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said particles comprise a metallic material. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said particles comprise discrete fluorochromes. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of particles comprises a plurality of chromogenes. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of particles comprises a plurality of discrete quantum dots. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of particles comprises a plurality of nanocrystals. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said waveguide material is designed and constructed to allow propagation of a portion of said light therein by total internal reflection. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said ambient electromagnetic field is other than any light. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said ambient electromagnetic field is in the visible range. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said ambient electromagnetic field is in the non-visible range 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said ambient electromagnetic field is in the infrared range. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said ambient electromagnetic field is in the ultraviolet range. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said waveguide material is a layered structure and wherein said particles are distributed in at least one layer of said layered structure. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said waveguide material comprises at least three layers and wherein said particles are distributed in an intermediate layer of said at least three layers. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said waveguide material is a layered structure and wherein said particles are distributed in an outer layer of said layered structure.