FLEXIBLE OPTICAL DEVICE
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.
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.