JPH07113919A - Lighting plastic optical fiber tube - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the lighting plastic optical fiber tube capable of improving the efficiency of utilizing flank leaking light and enhancing the flank luminance to the outside of the tube. CONSTITUTION:This lighting plastic optical fiber tube is produced by covering 11 pieces of bundled plastic optical fibers 2, from the flanks of which the incident light on the end face from a light source leaks, with a transparent tube. The optical fiber tube described above has a reflector 3 arranged along a longitudinal direction along the central part of the tube 1 enclosed by the bundled optical fibers 2. This reflector 3 reflects the flank leaking light from the optical fibers facing the inner side of the tube to the outer side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an illuminated plastic optical fiber tube in which a transparent optical tube covers a plastic optical fiber that leaks from all or a desired portion of the side surface of the optical fiber. The present invention relates to an illuminated plastic optical fiber tube provided with a reflector that reflects side light leakage from an optical fiber to the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Illuminated plastic optical fibers that leak light from the side are gathered into a sheet shape, a bundle shape, a string shape, etc.
It is used for lighting, decoration, design, and displays. Various fiber structures and manufacturing have been proposed for the illuminated plastic optical fibers such as bundles and strings.

For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-42534 relates to a leaky optical fiber. This invention selectively destroys the total internal reflection of an optical fiber mechanically or thermally to cause light leakage, and uses this optical fiber in a textile product. In addition to the above-mentioned conventional technology, a light leakage technology for leaking transmitted light from the side is characterized by the material and structure of the optical fiber, in which transparent particles are dispersed inside the optical fiber (Japanese Patent Publication No. 51-29951). And the sheath (clad)
Using elastomer as material (Shokai 60-1
No. 12204) and a translucent or opaque material such as glass particles or a diffusion center such as air bubbles are dispersed in the core of the optical fiber, and the diffusion center density is preferably increased as the distance from the end of the optical fiber increases. There is one (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-247705) that obtains a good illumination.

Further, the one in which a cut is formed on the surface of the optical fiber with a blade or the like, the one in which the rotating optical fiber is cut by a blade (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50-83044) and the optical fiber having a specific shape are used. What is formed on the surface (JP-A-63-253)
No. 903) and those that form scratches at specific positions (actual Kaihei 0
4-18801).

Further, in the case of forming a rough surface or strain on the surface of an optical fiber by heat treatment, a spirally wound synthetic fiber is wound around the optical fiber to heat-shrink it (Japanese Examined Patent Publication No.
32582) and a heated protrusion pressed against an optical fiber to form light leakage concave portions at predetermined intervals (JP-A-60-
No. 159707) and a heated rough plate pressed against an optical fiber to form fine irregularities on the surface (JP-A-63-293505, JP-A-63-318502).
No., Jitsukaihei 01-3803).

Those which twist or mechanically press down the optical fiber to form strains include those that twist the optical fiber to leave the strain (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50-83049) and fine protrusions. A method for forming fine irregularities on the surface by passing an optical fiber between rollers each having a groove (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 01-2730).
No. 07) and an optical fiber twisted around a tension member (JP-A-02-108007, JP-A-02-1).
No. 08008) and an optical fiber passed through a gear to form scratches / strains at predetermined intervals (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-123302).
No. 04-66904).

[0007] Regarding a string-shaped, rope-shaped or bundle-shaped leaking optical fiber, there is the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 47-42534, and in the specification of publication, a rope including the optical fiber 2 in the fiber bundle 72 is shown in FIG. ． It is illustrated at 15-17. In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 04-19578, a rope-shaped optical fiber is leaked with light of a different color for each fiber, and in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-14203, a rope-shaped optical fiber is leaked. An example is one in which the outer circumference is covered with a transparent tube.
In No. 4, there is proposed one in which an optical fiber is wound around the rope, and in No. 02-5704, there is proposed one in which the optical fiber is knitted and leaks in a mitami shape.

[0008]

However, in the conventional side-light leak illuminated plastic optical fiber, the light directed to the inside of the tube cannot diverge to the outside of the tube.
Usage efficiency is not always good. Further, the light leaked from the optical fiber arranged in the central portion interferes with the optical fibers on the outer circumference, and a large amount of light is absorbed by the surrounding optical fibers, thus lowering the utilization efficiency.

The present invention has been made on the basis of the above background, and an object thereof is to improve the utilization efficiency of side light leakage from an illuminated plastic optical fiber and increase the side brightness to the outside of the tube. It is to provide an illuminated plastic optical fiber tube.

[0010]

The above-mentioned problems can be solved by the present invention. That is, the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube of the present invention is a plastic optical fiber in which light incident from the end face leaks from the entire side surface or from a desired portion, and is covered with a transparent tube. A tube is surrounded by a bundle, and a reflector is provided along the longitudinal direction at the center of the tube. The reflector reflects side light leakage from an optical fiber directed to the inside of the tube to the outside. It is a thing.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flexible hollow body having a reflecting surface on its outer peripheral surface can be used as the reflecting body. By using such a flexible hollow body, the optical fiber arranged in the central portion can be omitted and the flexibility of the tube can be greatly improved.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
As the reflector, it is possible to use a transparent hollow body and an electric wire cable and / or a tension member covered with a reflector disposed inside thereof. With such a mode, the tube space can be effectively used.

The optical fiber used in the present invention is a plastic type having a clad (sheath) and a core (core), and its structure is a step index type multimode light whose refractive index changes stepwise. There are a fiber, a step index type single mode optical fiber having a single mode in which the refractive index changes stepwise, and a graded index type multimode optical fiber that propagates different modes. As a material constituting the core material, polymethylmethacrylate resin (PMMA, including homopolymer and copolymer of methyl methacrylate in the present specification), deuterated PMMA, polystyrene-based polymer, poly- 4-Methylpentene-1, a silicon-based polymer or the like can be used.

The clad (sheath) material has a smaller refractive index than the core material, and is, for example, a fluoropolymer, for example, a vinylidene fluoride polymer (in the present specification,
Including a copolymer, for example, vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (for example, vinylidene fluoride 50 wt% or more, preferably 70 wt% or more 90 wt%
Included below), vinylidene fluoride-propylene hexafluoride copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoroacetone copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride ternary or more (Including copolymers), perfluoroalkyl methacrylate-based polymers, methacrylic acid ester-based polymers, and the like.

The optical fiber according to the present invention is an optical fiber in which the light incident from the end face leaks from the entire side face or from a desired portion, and the side face light leak treatment can be performed on the optical fiber by various methods. For example, as its treatment, one that mechanically or thermally selectively destroys the total internal reflection of the optical fiber to leak light, one that disperses a transparent small piece inside the optical fiber, and one that is made of glass on the core of the optical fiber. Those that disperse translucent or opaque materials such as particles or diffusion materials such as bubbles, those that form cuts on the optical fiber surface with a blade, those that form rough surfaces and strains on the optical fiber surface by heat treatment, optical fibers Twisting or mechanically pressing to form a strain.

In the present invention, the preferred side light leakage is
By using a specific combination of the core and the sheath of the optical fiber, it is possible to perform the process without light leakage treatment. As such a combination, a polymethylmethacrylate resin as a core material and a vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer as a clad (sheath) material (for example, vinylidene fluoride is 50% by weight or more, preferably 70% by weight). 90% by weight or more
There is a combination with a copolymer contained below).

The optical fiber used in the present invention is used in a bundle or in a single book, and the term "bundle" means a state in which a plurality of optical fibers are simply assembled, a rope or a string. It means a twisted state, a state in which sheets are aligned and rolled, a state in which the above fiber aggregates are further collected and bundled, and a state in which these are twisted together. The number of optical fibers that can be used in the present invention is arbitrary and can be appropriately selected and changed according to the purpose.

The transparent tube used in the present invention is made of, for example, soft or flexible plastic and has transparency, and is colorless or colored. Specifically, there are vinyl chloride resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, polystyrene resin and the like. Sub-materials such as a plasticizer and an auxiliary agent can be added to these main components as appropriate.

The reflector used in the present invention has a function of reflecting side light leaked from the optical fiber facing the inside of the tube to the outside, and has various configurations. For example, a flexible hollow body having a reflecting surface on the outer peripheral surface can be used as the reflecting body. Further, as the reflector, it is also possible to use a transparent hollow body and an electric wire cable and / or a tension member covered with a reflector disposed inside thereof.

In the present invention, the tension member is
It is used to hold at least the shape of the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube in the longitudinal direction.For example, when shaping the outer shape in a straight line, use a wire or cable, and fix it at both ends of the tension member. It can be fixed to the outside and tension can be applied to this tube. Further, when an arbitrary shape such as letters and symbols is formed on the tube, a wire or a plastic material can be used as a member for holding the outer shape. It is also possible to provide external fixtures at both ends of the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube to maintain the spatial arrangement. The type of this fixture is arbitrary.

[0021]

The illuminated plastic optical fiber tube of the present invention having the above construction operates and operates as follows.
The plastic optical fiber leaks light from all or desired portions of its side surfaces. The leaked light overlaps with the light from another bundle of plastic optical fibers, passes through the transparent tube and illuminates directly to the outside, and the light directed to the inside of the tube is reflected by the reflector in the center of the tube. It is reflected to the outside of the tube and illuminates the outside of the tube.

[0022]

EXAMPLES Illuminated plastic optical fiber tubes according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of an illuminated plastic optical fiber tube according to the present invention. The illuminated plastic optical fiber tube of this embodiment is formed by covering 11 bundled plastic optical fibers 2 through which light incident from the light source to the end face leaks from the side surface with a transparent tube 1. The tube 1 surrounded by 2 is provided with a reflector 3 arranged in the central portion along the longitudinal direction. This reflector reflects the side light leakage from the optical fiber facing the inside of the tube to the outside.

In this embodiment, a flexible hollow body having a reflecting surface on the outer peripheral surface is used as the reflecting body. Conventionally, the flexibility of the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube is limited by the diameter and the total number of optical fibers, but by using the flexible hollow body according to this embodiment, the optical fiber arranged in the central portion is omitted. Therefore, the flexibility of the tube can be significantly improved. Moreover, since the number of optical fibers can be reduced, many optical fiber tubes can be illuminated with a small number of light sources, and the cost of the illumination device can be significantly reduced.

A method of using the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube of the above embodiment will be described. The light source is turned on and the light from this light source is incident on the optical fiber bundles at both ends. This plastic optical fiber leaks light from all of its side surfaces. The leaked light overlaps with the light from another bundle of plastic optical fibers, passes through the transparent tube and illuminates directly to the outside, and the light directed to the inside of the tube is reflected by the reflector in the center of the tube. It is reflected to the outside of the tube and illuminates the outside of the tube.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications included in the technical idea disclosed in the present invention are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, a tension member or a communication line may be provided inside the hollow reflector. FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube of this aspect. The illuminated plastic optical fiber tube of this embodiment is formed by covering seven bundled plastic optical fibers 2 through which light incident from the light source to the end face leaks from the side surface with a transparent tube 1. A reflector 3 provided along the longitudinal direction is provided in the center of a tube 1 surrounded by 2, and a tension member 4 and a communication line 5 are provided inside the reflector 3.
This reflector reflects the side light leakage from the optical fiber facing the inside of the tube to the outside. Both ends of the tension member are engaged and fixed to the fixing portion to maintain the outer shape of the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube.

Further, in another embodiment according to the present invention, in the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube, eleven bundled plastic optical fibers 2 through which light incident from the light source to the end face leaks from the side surface are covered with the transparent tube 1. The transparent hollow body 7 is provided along the longitudinal direction in the central portion of the tube 1 surrounded by the bundled optical fiber 2, and a tension member coated with a reflective material is provided inside the transparent hollow body 7. An electric wire cable 6 is provided. With this reflecting material, the side light leak from the optical fiber facing the inside of the tube is reflected to the outside.

[0027]

As will be concretely demonstrated in the above embodiment, the present invention has the following effects. That is, it is possible to improve the utilization efficiency of side light leakage from the illuminated plastic optical fiber and increase the side brightness to the outside of the tube.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment of an illuminated plastic optical fiber tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the illuminated plastic optical fiber tube according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Transparent Tube 2 Optical Fiber Bundle 3 Reflector 4 Tension Member 5 Communication Line 6 Reflective Material-Coated Electric Wire Cable 7 Transparent Hollow Body

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An illuminated plastic optical fiber tube in which a plastic optical fiber through which light incident from an end face leaks from all or a desired portion of a side surface is covered with a transparent tube and is surrounded by the optical fiber or a bundle of the fibers. Illuminated plastic, characterized in that it comprises a reflector disposed along the longitudinal direction in the central portion of the tube, and the reflector reflects the side leakage light from the optical fiber facing the inside of the tube to the outside. Fiber optic tube.