CA1267124A - Light transmission and blinking light apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A light transmission and blinking light apparatus having a light emitter, a means for regulating the transmission of light from the light emitter, and a length of fiber optic having at least one end communicating with the light emitter, and said fiber optic incorporating an incision for transmitting light from within the body of the fiber optic to outside the fiber optic at the incision, which apparatus can be combined with display devices.

Description

629~-100 i7~ ~

LIGHT TRANSMISSION AND ~LINKING_I,IGHT ~PPARATUS

The present invention relates generally to a light trans~
mission and blinking apparatus. It is particularly useful with any display device as a means for providing for light transmission and blinking lights emanating from this apparatus as affixed to any display device to be seen by a viewer.
Generally, the invention is comprised of transmitting light at a specific location within the interior or core of a ~iber optic to the outside of the fiber optic, such that a viewer on the outside of the fiber optic apparatus will see concentrated light at the transmission location within the fiber optic. The blinking eEfect is caused by the recurrent transmission of light into the interior of the fiber optic, and the light is concentrated and localized by making incisions in the body of the fiber optic at any specified location.
Presently, the use o~ ~iber optic apparatus is known and used in the display industry. These apparatuses were designed and operated as follows. In order to create more than one blinking light separate lengths of fiber optics have been necessary. For each separate blinking light location, it was necessary to have seperate lengths of fiber optic. Thus for a viewer to see "n"
blinking lights, "n" fiber optics were required, where "n" is an integer greater than zero. Each length of fiber optic was some-times used with a separate light source for illumination for each length. Thus "n" fiber optic lengths used "n" light sources, where "n" is an integer greater , .~
1 than ~ero.

2 By the use oE numerous light sources, a greater

3 demand for energy was used on whatever energy ~ources were

4 used by these light sources. If an apparatus used only one energy source to provide all of the energy to illuminate 6 numerous light sources, then the energy source would be depleted 7 and used up more rapidly than if for example only one light 8 source needed to be illuminated. This exhaustion of energy reduced the useful life of a self-contained blinking apparatus, resulting in more fre~uent need to replenish the energy source, 11 e.g., by replacing a bettery.
12 In general, more working parts were required, using 13 up space and costing more money.
14 Common designs, layouts and operatlons previously used can be shown by example. A greeting card with "n"
16 blinlcing lights wher "n" is an integer greater than zero, 17 required "n" appropriately sized and spaced separate fiber 18 optic lengths. A localized blinking light effect could only 19 be created and seen at the terminal end of each fiber optic.
So careful placement of each of "n" terminal ends of the fiber 21 optics was required. This presented cumbersome design and 22 spacing problems in the small space available in many display 23 devices. Each of the separate fiber optic lengths was then 24 illuminated by a light source. The blinking effect was created by the periodic activation and deactivation of this 26 liaht source by any commonly used circuitry and electric current 27 regulator.
28 The invention comprises a light transmission and 76-rS - PS 4-84 7~
629~~100 blinking apparatus requiriny only one Eiber optic length, one light source and one power source to provide many separate blinking lights. This invention provides for an improved blinking light apparatus which has a minimum of parts to produce an equivalent or greater number of blinking lights than was previously available. To practice the invention is less costly and less cumbersome and more easy to design, because there are fewer component parts and a reduced energy demand on the energy source.
Summary of the Invention More specifically, the invention is a display device having a perforation in its surface and enclosing a blinking light apparatus comprised of a light emitter, a length of fiber optic in communication with said emitter, and a control unit regulating the transmission of light from the emitter into the fiber optic said fiber optic having an incision in alignment with the perforation, said incision transmit-ting light from within the Eiber optic through the perforation such that the transmitted light is viewable at the perforation.
The invention also provides an illuminative device comprised of the combination of: A) an illumination apparatus having a light emitter, a means for regulating the transmission of light from the emitter, the fiber optic communicating with the emitter such that emitter light can be transmitted into the fiber optic and an incision in the wall of the fiber optic which incision i5 illuminable by light within the fiber optic; and B) a display device incorporating the illumination apparatus which i,: ~,, 629~-100 display device has a surEace perEoration that is fixed in relation to the illumination apparatus to align the iber optic incision with the perforation to allow viewing of the incision from the outside upon illumination.
In the preferred embodiment the fiber optic is comprised of repeated appropriately spaced incisions or transmission locations placed in the body of the fiber optic. These incisions cause the transmission of light from within the body of the fiber optic to the outside of the fiber optic at these locations. By providing for the recurrent transmission of light into the fiber optic a blinking effect results and can be seen at any incision in the fiber optic. These incisions can be made at any desired location in the fiber optic to enable the external transmission of light at those locations along the length of the fiber optic. By controlling the number of transmissions of light into the fiber optic in a designated time interval, essentially by the activation and deactivation of the light emit-ter, a blinking effect is crea~ed.
The manner, methods and apparatus in which these features can be attained appear further from the detailed description of the preferred embodimen-t and other embodiments which follows and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic illustrating the general form and relationship of the preferred embodiment of the light transmission and blinking light apparatus according to the invention, having one fiber optic length, one light source, one blin~ing control unit and one power source.

i,l.~, 7~
629~8-100 Figure 2 illustrates a light transmission and blinking light apparatus having two lengths of fiber optics, two light sources, a blinking control unit and one power source.
Figure 3 illustrates a ligh~ transmission and blinking light apparatus having two lengths of fiber optics, one light -4a-: . : ' ~ 7~ ~
1 source, a bllnkincJ cont:ro:l. unit and one power source.
2 Figure 4 is an exploded i~lustration of the preferred 3 embodiment of a greeting card display device containing the light 4 transmission and blinking light apparatus showing the precise

5 alignment of the perforations in the front face of the greeting

6 card display device with the incision locations in the length of

7 fiber optic.

8 Figure 5 is a schematic of the blinking control un.it for

9 the preferred embodiment comprised of an integrated circuit(IC)

10 known as IC 4049 UB.

11 Figure 6 is a transverse or cross-section view of a

12 length of.fiber optic showing the angle and depth of one king of

13 incision wit~in the body of the fiber opticO

14 Figure 7 is.a transvers view of the fiber optic along

15 line 7 in Figure 6 viewing into the incision within the fiber optic

16 of Figure 6.

17 Figure 8 illustrates the dimensions and shape of an

18 ~ncision wedge removed from the body of the fiber optic.

19 .

'265 .' .

28 , . . .

~ ; 7~l.A~t l Detailed Descrip-tion oE -the Invention 2 Fiber optics of many climensions, grades and qualities 3 exist presently. They are generally described in the ar 4 as transparent dielectric fibers. A propagation of light throughout the fiber optic follows familiar laws of geometrical 6 optics as long as the diameter of these fibers is large 7 compared to the wave length of the radiant light energy.
8 See Mecht, E. and Zajac, A., OPTICS, Addison-Wesley Publishing 9 Co., 1974, page 135. Fiber optics are avail~ble in a wide range of diameters today commercially ranging from about ll two microns up to about one-quarter of an inch in diameter, 12 but seldom do these diameters range in size much less than 13 about ten microns, which is equal to 0.01 millimeters (mm). Id. ;
14 It is believed that the invention can be practiced with any practically sized fiber optic that allows for light 16 transmission from within the fiber optic to the outside when 17 prepared in accordance with the invention. In the preferred 18 embodiment of the greeting card display device, the fiber optic l9 which is used is ESKA, a brand name and product of Mitsubishi Rayon Company. This fiber is made of a core of high-purity 21 polymethylacrylate and has a thin clad of transparent fluorine 22 polymer. It is 1.0 millimeters ~mm) in diameter and is classified 23 by the manufacturer as a JK-40 grade.
24 In the preferred embodiment of the greeting card display device, one length of fiber optic is all that is 26 required to produce many different blinking locations. In 27 Figure 1, one form of the preferred emboidment of the apparatus 28 can be seen. The length of fiber optic 1 formed in a circle l r ~ 7 ~

1 connec-ts at both ends to a licJht emitter 2 which is a light 2 emitting diode, or L.E.D., whlch in -turn is controlled by a 3 blinking control unit 3. The entire system is powered by khe 4 power source, whicA can be a battery 4. Around the fiber optic spaced approximately equi-distance, one from the other, 6 are a series of incisions 5.
7 Figure 2 and 3 show combinations of these units 8 having more than one fiber optic 1, or light emitter 2.
9 Figure 4 illustrates the use of this apparatus in the interior of a greeting card display device. The greeting card 6 has 11 the illustration of a Christmas tree or pine tree 7 on the 12 exterior of the card. Around this pine tree illustration are 13 appropriately spaced performations 8. These perforations are 14 spaced accordingly, to provide precise alignment with the incisions 5 in the length of the fiber optic 1. This 16 alignment provides that the light transmitted from within the 17 length of fiber optic at the incisions, passes through the 18 pexforations in the exterior of the greeting card and can then 19 be visible to a viewer of -the outside of the card. The whole apparatus is fixed in place within the interior of the greeting 21 card.
22 The light emitter 2 is firmly in communication 23 with either or both lengths of each fiber optic 1. Upon 24 activation by the blinking control unit 3, dxawing upon the power source 4, the light emitter transmits light into the body 26 of the fiber optic. As the light travels through the length 27 of the fiber optic it will encounter the incisions in the 28 fiber optic. Each incision 5 in the length of fiber optic is 76T5~ , r- PS 4-84 7 , 3~ 7 ~

l de~igned to il]um:inate the inclsion and provide the view oE
2 concentrat:ed light effec-t at the incision location in fiber optic. These incisions cause the transmission of ligh-t ~rom 4 the interior of the fiber optic to the exterior of the fiber ~ optic throughout the length of the fiber optic. These 6 transmissions result in an illuminated incision or "bulb"
7 like effect at the incision.
8 Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate a variety of i~ventive arrangements of the apparatus. Both ends of the fiber optic are shown attached to a single light emitter. This manner of ll attachment of both ends is not required but is useful in some 12 applications. By attaching the diode to both ends of the length 13 of fiber optic, light can be simultaneously transmitted in 14 both directions around the length of thb fiber optic.
The blinking effect itself is generated by causing 16 the recurrent or periodic transmission of light from the light 17 emitter 2 into the length of the fiber optic 1. Connected 18 to the li~ht emitter is any regulating means comprised of a 19 blinking control unit 3 and a power source 4. The blinking control unit can be any integrated circuit or any mechanism 21 appropriate for causing the recurxent transmission of light by 22 the light emitter powered by any appropriate power supply, 23 such as a battery cell or its equivalent. The regulating 24 means is connected directly to the light emitter. Figure 5 illustrates a schematic circuitry lay-out for the blinking 26 control unit, for two lengths of fiber optics connected to 27 the unit.
28 The entire apparatus can be activated by any ~ J~ I
1 "on-off" mechanism type in direct contact with -the regulatiny 2 means. When the switch is in the "on" position, power is 3 recurrently available to the light emitter through the 4 blinking control unit controlling the periodicity of light transmission. This results in the periodic or recurreht 6 transmission of Light from the light emitter into the fiber 7 optic length. By setting up the regulating means in appropriate 8 fashion, light can be transmitted more or less frequently as 9 the electrical flow to the light emitter is regulated. Thus a more or less frequent blinking effect will be seen at each 11 incision location. Should no blinking effect be sought, but 12 only a constant illumination of the incisions then the 13 continuous transmission of light into the length of fiber optic `14 is all that is necessary.
The incisions themselves are cuts in or wedgings 16 taken out of portions of the fiber optic. It has been determined 17 that these can be s]ices i'n or wedgings out of the Liber optic and 18 can be of varying ~epths or angles to result in light transmission 19 and illumination at the inci~ion location. Examples follow.
An incision in the length of fiber optic is detailed 21 by reference to Figures 6, 7, and 8. The fiber optic itself 22 9 is a three dimensional solid in the shape of a cylindrical 23 solid. For purposes of geometric portions of this description, 24 it is sometimes referred to as a "cylinder". The cylind~r has a longitudinal axis 10 running through its entire length.
26 This longitudinal axis 10 is an imaginary line comprising 2? all of the center points of all imaginary circular cross-28 sections 11 of the cylinder. Each cross-section 11 is 76TS _ PS4-1~4 1 ¦ circular ~nd has a diameter or -transverse axis 12 whlch 2 ¦ intersects -the longitudinal axis at the imaginary center 3 ¦ point 13 of the circular cross-section and which is perpen-4 ¦ dicular to the longitudinal axis. The cylinder has a diameter 51 A, and a radius B. The depth of an incision made in the 61 cylinder is C~
7 ¦ In the detailed embodiment the incision is a 8 ¦ ~edge removed from the body of the cylinder. This wedge 9 ¦ is bounded by a chord 17 which is transverse to the cylinder 10 ¦ and parallel to the transverse axis 12. Further bounding 11 ¦ this wed~e are two segments of intersecting planes 18 and 19.
12 ¦ These plane segments 18 and 19 intersect each other at all : 13 ¦ points within the cylinder along the chord 17. The chord 17 14 ¦ is a chord connecting two points of the transverse arc 20, 15 I which is a portion of the circular cross-section 11. This 16 ¦ transverse arc 20 subtends the chord 17. The two plane 17 ¦ se~ments 18 and 19 are symmetric about ~he chord 17 and 18 ¦ intersect each other at all points within the cylinder at 19 ¦ an angle D.

20 ¦ Once the desired location of any incision has been

21 ¦ determined, for example by its positioning within the interior

22 ¦ of a greeting card display device, the cylinder is positioned

23 ¦ by reference to the viewpoint of the viewer of the incision.

24 ¦ In figure 6 the eye 15 is the location of the eye of the

25 ¦ viewer in the detailed embodiment application. Eye lS is

26 ¦ located on the opposite side of the cylinder from the incision,

27 ¦ illustrated by the line of vision 16 running from eye 14

28 ¦ to eye lS, said line of vision further perpendicular to 76T S _ PS 4-84 l both its intersection of the chord 17 and the lonyitudinal 2 axis 10. It is pre~erred that the viewer be located at 3 about the location of eye 15 relative to the incision. This 4 provides for viewing the illuminated incision at a superior magnitude and concentration.
6 To prepare any incision any appropriately precise 7 cutting and measuring tool or method can be used. In the 8 preferred embodiment the ESKA fiber optic is used. It has a diameter A of one millimeter, and a radius B of 0.5 millimeter.
The depth of the incision C equals 0.3 millimeters. The angle ll of intersection D between the two plane segments 18 and 19 12 equals 30 degrees. The line of vision 16 is perpendicular to 13 both the chord 17 and the longtitudinal axis lQ.
14 Other fiber optics which allow for the transmission of light to the outside of the fiber optic, and of any 16 diameter can be used. The depth of incision C and the angle 17 of intersection D can be varied. These variations of depth 18 C and angulation D oridinarily will effect the magnitude and 19 concentration of lighf seen from any viewpoint. The depth C of 0.3 millimeters and angulation D of 30 degrees have been 21 found to be one effective way ~o provide a concentrated 22 illuminated incision as viewed along line of vision 16 from 23 the opposite side of the incision. However, it is not 24 necessary that the viewer be placed on the opposite side of the fiber optic from the incision, as the illuminated incision 26 can be seen from many positions relative to the fiber optic 27 incision.
28 The preferred embodiment of a greeting card display T 5 7 _ p5 4 3 4 .1~

1 device usincJ the blinking light apparatus, as yenerally 2 illus-trated by Figure 4, can be se-t up and operated as follows.
3 The apparatus is fixed in position in -the lnterior of the 4 card in a design as illustrated by Figure 4. The perforations 8 should be placed on the opposite side of each of the fiber 6 optic incisions 5. The provision of an "on-off" switch 7 into the blinking light apparatus can be provided by any 8 pratical mechanism known in the art. The battery 4 can be 9 any appropriately sized battery. When the card is closed concealing the apparatus, the "on" switch activates the blinking 11 light apparatus causing power from the power source 4 to reach 12 the blinking control unit 3 causing the recurrent transmission 13 of electrical energy to the light emitting diode 2, which in 14 turn intermittently transmits light into the length of the fiber optic 1. As the light travels through the fiber optic and 16 encounters each incision 5, light will be transmitted to the 17 exterior of the fiber optic, passing though the perforations 18 8, illuminating the incision, providing any viewer with the 19 view of blinking lights at the branches of the illustrated pine tree 7.
21 The invention provides for many blinking lights 22 at many locations in the body of only one fiber optic, 23 and requiring only one light source, or light emitter. If 24 the application of the user required "n" blinking lights, where "n" is an integer greater than one, then "n" incisions 26 are made in the length of the fiber optic. These "n"
27 blinking lights can be provided by the use of only "k" fiber 28 optics. Thus "k" fiber optics are required, where k=n when r57 r- PS 4 a4 ~ 12-7~

6294~-100 n-l, and where "k" is less than or equal to "n" when "n" is an integer greater than one. Furthermore, "n" blinking lights can be provided by making "n" incisions in the body of one or more fiber optics, while only "k" li~ht emitters or light sources are required. Thus "kl' light emitters are required where k-n when n=l, and where "k" is less than or equal to "n7', when "n" is an integer greater than one.
The invention also comprises any display device in combination with this light transmission and blinking apparatus.
Without limitation but by way of example are the following display devices: toys, consumer electronic products, stationary, gift items, decorations, posters, picture frames, boxes, greeting cards, masks, ~adges, pins, buttons, labels, signs, hats, album covers, candle holders~ ornaments and many other display devices. The further combination with musical instruments and instrumentation is also available.
The above examples are in no way a limitation on the scope oE this invention buk rather illustrates some embodiments and applications of this invention.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable ~etail with references to certain preferred versions thereof, o~her versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

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Claims (4)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A display device having a perforation in its surface and enclosing a blinking light apparatus comprised of a light emitter, a length of fiber optic in communication with said emitter, and a control unit regulating the transmission of light from the emitter into the fiber optic said fiber optic having an incision in alignment with the perforation, said incision transmitting light from within the fiber optic through the perforation such that the transmitted light is viewable at the perforation.

2. A display device as claimed in claim 1 comprising a card, a button, or an ornament and including a plurality of incisions in said fiber optic aligned with a corresponding number of perforations.

3. An illuminative device comprised of the combination of:
A) an illumination apparatus having a light emitter, a means for regulating the transmission of light from the emitter, the fiber optic communicating with the emitter such that emitter light can be transmitted into the fiber optic and an incision in the wall of the fiber optic which incision is illuminable by light within the fiber optic; and B) a display device incorporating the illumination apparatus which display device has a surface perforation that is fixed in relation to the illumination apparatus to align the fiber optic incision with the perforation to allow viewing of the incision from the outside upon illumination.

4. An illuminated device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said display device comprises a card, button, ornament or the like including a plurality of incisions in said fiber optic aligned with a corresponding plurality of surface perforations.