Granted Patent B1

US 6,874,924 · App. 10/385,007 · Granted Apr 5, 2005

Abstract

Claims (21)

1. An illumination device for simulation of neon lighting, comprising:

an elongated and substantially cylindrical waveguide having a light-emitting outer surface, a channel defined through a portion of said waveguide substantially along the length thereof, said channel defining opposing lateral wall surfaces, and said waveguide including an interior semi-reflective portion spaced at a predetermined distance from said light-emitting outer surface; and

an elongated light source positioned within said channel, between said opposing lateral wall surfaces, and extending substantially along the length of said waveguide, said elongated light source being oriented so as to substantially direct light to one side and into one of said lateral wall surfaces, said light traversing said waveguide with a portion of said light being scattered and emitted through the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide, said semi-reflective portion reflecting additional light and causing it also to be scattered and emitted through the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide to create a substantially uniform light intensity pattern over the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide.

2. The illumination device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said waveguide has a substantially annular cross-section defining an inner circumferential surface, and said semi-reflective portion of the waveguide is secured to said inner circumferential surface.

3. The illumination device as recited in claim 2 , wherein said semi-reflective portion is a coating applied to the inner circumferential surface of said waveguide.

4. The illumination device as recited in claim 3 , wherein said coating is a spray paint applied to the inner circumferential surface of said waveguide.

5. The illumination device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said elongated light source is a multiplicity of point light sources.

6. The illumination device as recited in claim 5 , wherein said point light sources are light-emitting diodes.

7. The illumination device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said light-emitting diodes are oriented in alternating directions along the length of said waveguide.

8. The illumination device as recited in claim 5 , wherein said point light sources are encapsulated in a potting compound.

9. The illumination device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said elongated light source and any associated electrical accessories are received in a tray, said tray being selectively positioned in and secured relative to the channel defined in said waveguide.

10. The illumination device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said waveguide has a substantially annular cross-section and said semi-reflective portion is a central co-axial rod that extends the length of said waveguide.

11. The illumination device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said waveguide has a substantially spiral cross-section with its greatest thickness at the wall surface through which light is directed from said elongated light source, the thickness of said waveguide gradually decreasing about the circumference of said waveguide, such that the distance between the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide and the interior semi-reflective portion decreases about the circumference of said waveguide.

12. An illumination device for simulation of neon lighting, comprising:

an elongated waveguide having a light-emitting outer surface, a channel defined through a portion of said waveguide substantially along the length thereof, said channel defining at least one wall surface, and said waveguide including an interior semi-reflective portion spaced at a predetermined distance from said light-emitting outer surface; and

an elongated light source positioned within said channel and extending substantially along the length of said waveguide, said elongated light source being oriented so as to direct light into said at least one wall surface, said light traversing said waveguide with a portion of said light being scattered and emitted through the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide, said semi-reflective portion reflecting additional light and causing it also to be scattered and emitted through the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide to create a substantially uniform light intensity pattern over the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide;

wherein said elongated light source is a multiplicity of light-emitting diodes oriented in alternating directions along the length of said waveguide.

13. An illumination device for simulation of neon lighting, comprising:

an elongated waveguide having a light-emitting outer surface, a channel defined through a portion of said waveguide substantially along the length thereof, said channel defining at least one wall surface, and said waveguide including an interior semi-reflective portion spaced at a predetermined distance from said light-emitting outer surface; and

an elongated light source positioned within said channel and extending substantially along the length of said waveguide, said elongated light source being oriented so as to direct light into said at least one wall surface, said light traversing said waveguide with a portion of said light being scattered and emitted through the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide, said semi-reflective portion reflecting additional light and causing it also to be scattered and emitted through the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide to create a substantially uniform light intensity pattern over the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide;

wherein said waveguide has a substantially spiral cross-section with its greatest thickness at the wall surface through which light is directed from said elongated light source, the thickness of said waveguide gradually decreasing about the circumference of said waveguide, such that the distance between the light-emitting outer surface of said waveguide and the interior semi-reflective portion decreases about the circumference of said waveguide.

Assignments (8)