GB2385429A - Light System with several input conduits and one output conduit - Google Patents

Light System with several input conduits and one output conduit Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2385429A
GB2385429A GB0203587A GB0203587A GB2385429A GB 2385429 A GB2385429 A GB 2385429A GB 0203587 A GB0203587 A GB 0203587A GB 0203587 A GB0203587 A GB 0203587A GB 2385429 A GB2385429 A GB 2385429A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
light
light transmission
tier
junction device
conduits
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0203587A
Other versions
GB0203587D0 (en
Inventor
Kenneth Board
Gareth Peter Evans
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Enfis Ltd
Original Assignee
Enfis Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Enfis Ltd filed Critical Enfis Ltd
Priority to GB0203587A priority Critical patent/GB2385429A/en
Publication of GB0203587D0 publication Critical patent/GB0203587D0/en
Publication of GB2385429A publication Critical patent/GB2385429A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/26Optical coupling means
    • G02B6/28Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals
    • G02B6/2804Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
    • G02B6/2817Optical coupling means having data bus means, i.e. plural waveguides interconnected and providing an inherently bidirectional system by mixing and splitting signals forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers using reflective elements to split or combine optical signals

Abstract

A light system having a pod junction device (1), input light transmission optical fibres (2), and an output light transmission optical fibre (3). Input and output optical fibres (2,3) can be coupled to the pod junction device (1) via a forward wall (4) of the pod junction device (1). The pod junction device (1) is configured such that light entering the interior of pod junction device (1) via the input light transmission fibres (2) can only escape via the light output transmission optical fibre (3). The concave rear wall (5) of pod junction device (1) can be provided with a concave reflective surface so that the input light is reflected into output light transmission optical fibre (3). Similarly a two or more tier system may also be used as shown in Fig 2. The light system is believed to have applications in consumer and domestic lighting displays and arrays and in telecommunications.

Description

-1- I Light Sys tem The present invention relates to a light system.
According to a first aspect the invention provides a light system comprising: a) a plurality of input light transmission conduits; b) an output light transmission conduit; and c) a junction device for directing light from the plurality of input light transmission conduits into 15 the output light transmission conduit.
The input light transmission conduit and the outlet light transmission conduit are beneficially optically coupled to the junction device such that light is substantially 20 inhibited from passing out of the junction device other than via the output light transmission conduit.
The output light transmission conduit is beneficially arranged to collect light passing out of the junction 25 device in a general direction opposed to the general direction of light entering the junction device via the input light transmission conduit. The input light transmission conduit and the output light transmission conduit are beneficially provided entering the device via 30 a first side or face.
-2- It is preferred that the junction device reflects light from the input light transmission conduit to be collected into the output light transmission conduit. The junction device therefore beneficially includes an internal 5 reflective surface (which is preferably concave). The reflective surface is carefully shaped so as to reflect the maximum amount of light to pass by the output light transmission conduit. The reflective surface may be constructed from plastic (clear or otherwise) coated with lo a reflective film, or a metallic reflector (or combination of both) may be utilised.
It is preferred that the output light transmission conduit is coupled to the junction device substantially on an axis 15 of the junction device.
In one embodiment light of a different respective wavelength (or wavelength bands) may be carried by respective input light transmission conduits. The light 20 output conduit would in such circumstances carry light of the combination of wavelengths (or wavelength bands).
Beneficially the input and output light transmission conduits comprise respective optical fibres or bundles of 25 optical fibres.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a light system comprising:
-3- i) a plurality of first tier systems, each including: a) a plurality of input light transmission conduits; 5 b) an output light transmission conduit; and c) a junction device for directing light from the plurality of input light transmission conduits into the output light transmission conduit; and ii) one or more second tier systems including: a) a plurality of second tier system input light transmission conduits, one or more of which 15 comprise respective output light transmission conduits of a respective first tier system.
b) a second tier system output light transmission conduit; and c) a second tier system junction device for directing light from the plurality of second tier input light transmission conduits to be collected into the second tier system output light 25 transmission conduit.
Beneficially, a plurality of the second tier system input light transmission conduits comprise respective output light transmission conduits of respective first tier 30 systems.
The invention will now be further described in specific embodiments, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 5 Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a light system in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a system in accordance with the invention having first and second tier 10 systems.
Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figure 1, there is shown a light system comprising a pod junction device 1, a plurality of input light transmission optical fibres 2, 15 and an output light transmission optical fibre 3.
Input and output optical fibres 2,3 are coupled to the pod junction device 1 via a forward wall 4 of the pod junction device 1. The pod junction device 1 is configured such 20 that light entering the interior of pod junction device 1 via the input light transmission fibres 2 can only escape via the light output transmission optical fibre 3.
The concave rear wall 5 of pod junction device 1 is 25 provided with a reflective surface (which may be a reflective coated surface or a metallic surface of the pod junction device). Light entering the interior of pod junction device 1 is reflected from the concave reflective wall 5 to be accurately directed to pass into output light 30 transmission optical fibre 3.
-5- The input light transmission optical fibres 2 can carry light of the same wavelength or have different wavelengths, and can have the same intensity or be of different intensities. The light may derive from, for example, laser 5 light producing apparatus LEDs or other light sources.
The arrangement shown in Figure 1 represents a "first tier" system in which a single pod is used to combine light from a number of inputs into a multiplied output (output 10 transmission optical fibre 3).
The arrangement as shown in Figure 2 represents a first and second tier system in which light from a plurality of first tier systems la-le is directed via optical fibres 15 3a,3b,3c,3d,3e to a second tier pod junction device 101.
The inputs into pod 101 via optical fibres 3a,3b,3c,3d,3e are multiplied and combined into a single single second tier output light transmission optical fibre 103.
20 The system may be further expanded to have third, fourth and theoretically, an infinite number of tiers in the system, the light being multiplied with each additional tier. 25 There will be some inevitable losses in each unit (and in each tier) of the system but overall there will be a considerable net gain. The condition governing this for a single tier system is aN >1; where N is the number of input fibres; and 30 a is the coupling loss given by Woue/ (NWin)
-6- Wout iS the output optical power: Win is the optical power into one of the input optical fibres. 5 Generalising, if there are N1, N2, N3 groups of fibres in successive tiers 1,2,3 then the ideal overall combined output would be product N1,N2,N3......
The light system in accordance with the invention provides 10 a convenient light transmission system benefiting from the capability of multiplication of light output in 1,2 and N stage (tier) systems.
The system is believed to have applications in numerous 15 fields in which versatility of light emission and lighting
apparatus will be of benefit. Applications include medical and healthcare, industrial, consumer and domestic (for example, consumer and domestic lighting displays and arrays) and telecommunications.

Claims (1)

  1. -7- CLAIMS:
    1. A light system comprising: 5 a) a plurality of input light transmission conduits; b) an output light transmission conduit; and c) a junction device for directing light from the 10 plurality of input light transmission conduits into the output light transmission conduit.
    2. A light system according to claim 1, wherein the input light transmission conduits and the output light 15 transmission conduit are optically coupled to the junction device such that light is substantially inhibited from passing out of the junction device other than via the output light transmission conduit.
    20 3. A light system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the output light transmission conduit is arranged to collect light passing out of the junction device in a general direction opposed to the general direction of light entering the junction device via 25 the input light transmission conduits.
    4. A light system according to any preceding claim, wherein the junction device reflects light from the input light transmission conduits to be collected into 30 the output light transmission conduit.
    5. A light system according to claim 4, wherein the junction device includes an internal reflective surface. 5 6. A light system according to claim 5, wherein the internal reflective surface is concave.
    7. A light surface according to any preceding claim, wherein the output light transmission conduit is 10 coupled to the junction device substantially on an axis of the junction device.
    8. A light system according to any preceding claim, wherein light of respective different wavelengths, or 15 wavelength bands, is carried by respective input light transmission conduits.
    9. A light system according to any preceding claim, wherein the input light transmission conduits comprise 20 respective optical fibres or bundles of optical fibres. 10. A light system according to any preceding claim, wherein the output light transmission conduit 25 comprises an optical fibre or a bundle of optical fibres. A light system comprising: 30 i) a plurality of first tier systems, each
    - 9 - including: a) a plurality of input light transmission conduits; b) an output light transmission conduit; and c) a junction device for directing light from the plurality of input light transmission 10 conduits into the output light transmission conduit; and ii) one or more second tier systems including: 15 a) a plurality of second tier system input light transmission conduits, one or more of which comprise respective output light transmission conduits of a respective first tier system.
    b) a second tier system output light transmission conduit; and c) a second tier system junction device for 25 directing light from the plurality of second tier input light transmission conduits to be collected into the second tier system output light transmission conduit.
    -10 12. A light system according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of the second tier system input light transmission conduits comprise respective output light transmission conduits of respective first tier S systems. 13. A light system according to claim 11, wherein the second tier input light transmission conduits and the second tier output light transmission conduit are 10 optically coupled to the second tier junction device such that light is substantially inhibited from passing out of the second tier junction device other than via the second tier output light transmission conduit. 14. A light system according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the second tier output light transmission conduit is arranged to collect light passing out of the second tier junction device in a general direction 20 opposed to the general direction of light entering the second tier junction device via the second tier input light transmission conduits.
    15. A light system according to any preceding claim, 25 wherein the second tier junction device reflects light from the second tier input light transmission conduits to be collected into the second tier output light transmission conduit.
    -11 16. A light system according to claim 14, wherein the second tier junction device includes an internal reflective surface.
    5 17. A light system according to claim 15, wherein the internal reflective surface is concave.
    18. A light surface according to any preceding claim, wherein the second tier output light transmission 10 conduit is coupled to the second tier junction device substantially on an axis of the junction device.
    19. A light system according to any preceding claim, wherein light of respective different wavelengths, or 15 wavelength bands, is carried by respective second tier input light transmission conduits.
    20. A light system according to any preceding claim, wherein the second tier input light transmission 20 conduits comprise respective optical fibres or bundles of optical fibres.
    21. A light system according to any preceding claim, wherein the second tier output light transmission 25 conduit comprises an optical fibre or a bundle of optical fibres.
    22. A light system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0203587A 2002-02-14 2002-02-14 Light System with several input conduits and one output conduit Withdrawn GB2385429A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0203587A GB2385429A (en) 2002-02-14 2002-02-14 Light System with several input conduits and one output conduit

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0203587A GB2385429A (en) 2002-02-14 2002-02-14 Light System with several input conduits and one output conduit

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0203587D0 GB0203587D0 (en) 2002-04-03
GB2385429A true GB2385429A (en) 2003-08-20

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Family Applications (1)

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GB0203587A Withdrawn GB2385429A (en) 2002-02-14 2002-02-14 Light System with several input conduits and one output conduit

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7989839B2 (en) 2002-08-23 2011-08-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Method and apparatus for using light emitting diodes
US8096691B2 (en) 1997-09-25 2012-01-17 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N V Optical irradiation device
US9726435B2 (en) 2002-07-25 2017-08-08 Jonathan S. Dahm Method and apparatus for using light emitting diodes for curing

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4182544A (en) * 1978-08-03 1980-01-08 Sperry Rand Corporation Resonant multiplexer-demultiplexer for optical data communication systems
DE3843970A1 (en) * 1988-12-24 1990-07-05 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Optical wavelength multiplexer and/or demultiplexer
WO2001014921A1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2001-03-01 Lightchip, Inc. Wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer using homogeneous refractive index lenses and transmission grating

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4182544A (en) * 1978-08-03 1980-01-08 Sperry Rand Corporation Resonant multiplexer-demultiplexer for optical data communication systems
DE3843970A1 (en) * 1988-12-24 1990-07-05 Standard Elektrik Lorenz Ag Optical wavelength multiplexer and/or demultiplexer
WO2001014921A1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2001-03-01 Lightchip, Inc. Wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer using homogeneous refractive index lenses and transmission grating

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8096691B2 (en) 1997-09-25 2012-01-17 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N V Optical irradiation device
US9726435B2 (en) 2002-07-25 2017-08-08 Jonathan S. Dahm Method and apparatus for using light emitting diodes for curing
US7989839B2 (en) 2002-08-23 2011-08-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Method and apparatus for using light emitting diodes

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Publication number Publication date
GB0203587D0 (en) 2002-04-03

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