WO1997015853A1

WO1997015853A1 - Modular fiber optic illumination system

Info

Publication number: WO1997015853A1
Application number: PCT/US1996/017010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward G. Ludwig, Jr.
Original assignee: The Applied Technology Partnership
Priority date: 1995-10-27
Filing date: 1996-10-25
Publication date: 1997-05-01
Also published as: AU7519896A

Abstract

A modular fiber optic illumination system (10) which includes an independent light source or lamp (12), an optical fiber light transmission media (14) such as an optical fiber bundle, a port (15) for receiving and supporting the light transmission media (14) and a combination light conducting and heat insulating coupler (16) which is aligned between the light source (12) and the optical fiber light transmission port (15) for transmitting light projected from the light source (12) to the distal end of the optical fiber transmission media (14). The coupler housing contains multiple spaced lenses (21, 22) and is sealed from the elements and is independent of the lamp to provide a truly modular illumination system which also prevents the distal end of the light transmission media (14) from experiencing burn-out. If the illumination system requires a ballast or transformer, it also is independently housed from the lamp.

Description

MODULAR FIBER OPTIC ILLUMINATION SYSTEM

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to illumination systems and, more particularly, to fiber optic illumination systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such optical media illumination systems are in fact remote source illuminators. Typical applications include, but are not limited to, automobiles, other transportation, aerospace, naval and marine vessels, display cases (museum, retail, refrigerated, and other) lighting, down and accent lighting, emergency and path lighting for egress, architectural and landscape lighting, medical lighting, hazardous area lighting, furniture and office module lighting, under water lighting (aquarium, pool, fountain), decorative lighting, theater lighting and stage lighting.

Fiber optic lighting has been accomplished using glass fiber bundles for many years. More recently, it has become increasingly desirable to use plastic fiber optics in a wide variety of applications. Plastic fiber optics are even more susceptible to heat damage than bundles of glass fibers. Because of this susceptibility to heat damage, the number of applications in which the plastic light conduit can be used is limited primarily to applications requiring small amounts of light. Plastic or polymerized fiber optics or light conduits, deteriorate quickly when exposed to heat and oxygen. They turn yellow and then brown and, in addition, may become brittle. The light receiving distal end of the fiber optic discolors thereby decreasing light transmission through the fiber optic and causes the fiber optic to absorb more heat and to covert more light to heat, which accelerates the deterioration.

Even fiber optics extruded of glass filaments or fibers are subject to heat deterioration. The plurality of glass fibers are generally bound together into a bundle which is glued together with an adhesive such as epoxy. If the glass bundle of fiber optics becomes too hot because of subjection to high intensity illumination systems, the epoxy can react with the individual glass fibers, deteriorating the surface and thus decreasing the light carrying efficiency of the fiber.

Also glass fiber optics are fragile and, as such, they are typically sheathed with a protective coating.

Whether the light source (typically 150 watts and greater) is incandescent or high intensity discharge, the typical design used for the glass fiber illuminator will result in a fiber interface that is too hot (greater than 50 ^°C) for plastic fibers. Many, in fact, are too hot to properly handle glass fiber due to the aforementioned problem.

Various techniques have been used to cool the interface at the light receiving distal end of the fiber optic bundle, including filters, fans, cold mirrors, optical conductor rods and combination lens light couplers. For example, one manufacturer has begun producing an illuminator which does not use a fan, but rather uses a collimating lens followed by a condensing lens to increase the distance between the lamp and fiber while maintaining the effective focal point. This permits the illuminator to use a 200 watt high intensity discharge lamp with plastic fibers without the requirement of a fan.

The problem with such an illuminator system is that the optical components are subjected to dirt, dust, water or other deposits so that the efficiency of the optical design is lost and additionally the system does not admit to the possibility of easy and quick interchange between an available variety of optical media or conduits and various available types of light sources. In addition, because all of the illuminator parts are housed in one "box", the size and weight of said box may become unwieldy and not practical for applications and installations.

The use of optical conductor rods, as disclosed for example in U.S. Patent No.

4,523,257, additionally has drawbacks in that such conductor rods are relatively expensive, are fragile or break easily, and transmit excessive heat to the interface at the distal light receiving end of the optical light conductor. Additionally such glass rods or bars are heavy, fragile and tend to easily come out of alignment.

Another approach which is being used in combination is a 60 watt lamp which is followed by a collimating lens and a multi-segmented lens. Thus, the distance between the lamp and the fibers is increased and the light is focused into individual fibers and the need for a cooling fan is eliminated. However, it was discovered that with 150 watt prototypes that a cooling fan was nevertheless still required making the units excessively bulky and noisy. All of the prior art systems are also very inefficient in light transmission to the fiber distal ends.

Another very serious problem with all of the aforementioned fiber optic illumination systems of the prior art is that they are excessively large or bulky for discrete installation conditions and they did not provide a truly modular capability wherein any selected optical media light source may be quickly and interchangeably selected and connected to the system with minimum bulk.

One prior art system claims to provide a modular fiber optic illumination system which has the ability to change the light sources or to use different types of optics.

However, this prior art system is not truly modular. In fact, the light source and the optical media are housed in or on the same common single housing which is of excessive bulk for clean, efficient and compact installations. The unit is modular only in the sense that the optical media or fibers and the illuminator or light source are readily exchangeable or detachably mounted on, or within, one common illuminator housing.

In addition, the illuminator housings of the prior art are required to be of even greater bulk when transformers or ballast must also be contained within the housing for halogen and incandescent lamps or for high intensity discharge lamps. It is a principle object of the present invention to provide an illuminator for fiber optics wherein the optical components are fully protected from dirt, dust, water or other deposits or contaminants to thereby preserve the efficiency of the optical design, and to provide a system which truly maintains the optical fiber interface at 50 ^°C or less.

It is a further principle object of the present invention to provide such a fiber optic illumination system which is truly modular wherein the system allows for the use of any lamp and reflector combination, as well as all otiier light sources, such as focused sunlight, all with the same basic optic system, and which further permits the interchangeable use of any optic media, all within a truly compact small modular system which is unobtrusive and light weight in installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fiber optic illumination system ofthe present invention includes a separate or independent light source which has a light projection axis and houses a lamp, device or mechanism for providing light projected along this axis. An optical fiber light transmission or conduit media is also provided for receiving the projected light at a distal end of the media (optical fiber) and to transmit the light to a proximal end thereof for emission. A port is provided for receiving and supporting the distal end of this light transmission media for aligned reception of the projected light from the light housing.

A combination light conducting and heat insulating coupler is disposed between the light source and the optical fiber port with its light receiving distal end for transinitting the projected light from the light housing to the distal end of the optical fiber light transmission media. The coupler includes multiple spaced lenses or lens medias cooperatively arranged as a light guide and mounted in a sealed lens housing which is independent of the light housing.

The coupler is therefore adapted for alignment between the light housing and the fiber optic port for transmitting the projected light from the light housing to the distal end of the optical fiber light transmission media thereby providing a fiber optic illumination system which is truly modular and additionally protects the distal end ofthe optical fiber light transmission media from bum-out.

The independently housed basic optical package or light coupler can, in one embodiment, consist of a collimating lens and a focusing lens which are held in a fixed array and sealed in the lens housing. The port which receives and supports the distal end of the light transmission media may be interchanged or adapted and designed to accept different optical fiber media combinations.

For example, the port may be designed to accept a bundle of optical fibers and the focusing lens can be replaced by a multi-segmented lens allowing individual focal points of light for acceptance by the individual optical fibers. The distance between the port and the focusing lens may be variable to adjust the light focusing area to match the size of the fiber optic cable or bundle proximal end to be lit. Ultraviolet and infrared light may also be filtered out of the light projection beam as desired. This may be accomplished by using dichroic coatings on the lamp reflector system and/or by having special filters positioned in front of the collimating lens. In fact the collimating lens itself may have special coatings applied to the surface or surfaces for filtering. In addition, special filters may be fitted between the collimating and focusing lenses, thus becoming part of the sealed optic system or coupler. However, this latter option is less desirable as heat build-up inside of the sealed coupler unit could occur.

For the sealed optic coupler system, the lenses may be glass, acrylic or other acceptable clear material. Preferably, the collimating lens is glass as it is closest to the light source and glass can be easily coated to remove residual ultraviolet and infrared light. The light reflector may be metal, glass or plastic, but the most preferred would be a glass reflector with dichroic coatings to eliminate ultraviolet and infrared light. The light source is focused directly onto the collimating lens. Thus, as long as the light source can focus light onto the collimating lens, the system will be operable even though the coupler housing and light housing are separate or independent. Accordingly, the combination light conducting and heat insulating coupler of the sealed coupler of the present invention will work with any focusable light source and therefore represents a truly modular approach to fiber optic illumination systems which are also small or compact and prevents burnout of the optical media light receiving distal end. To maximize efficiency, slight changes in the lenses may be needed for different light sources.

The fiber optic media outlet port may have a variety of designs for different applications and may or may not also be an integral part of the optics coupler housing or it may be retro-fit to the coupler housing. A simple port may be provided to accept a standard fiber optic bundle or a multi-segmented lens may be used thereby eliminating the need for a bundle. As another altemative, a hemispherical connector may be used. Other port designs, such as plastic threaded port connectors, metal heat sink connectors and grids, etc. will also have utility with the broad design of the present invention.

While the sealed optical array of the coupler is primarily designed to lower the port temperature of the optical fiber interface and to offer a sealed, modular, universal optical package for fiber optic lighting, this system may nevertheless also be used with glass fibers, glass rods, plastic rods, plastic or glass tubes, liquid filled light pipes, hollow light pipes, linear prismatics or any other medium used to conduct and carry hght, as well as solid core plastic fibers and bundles of plastic fibers. The fiber optic illumination system of the present invention will also work for end-light or sidelight applications as well as for a combination of the two and can also increase light transmissions efficiency from the light source to the fiber transmission media by over a multiple of three of that capable by the prior art.

The enclosure for the optics coupler housing can be made of metal, wood, glass, plastic or any other rigid or semi-rigid material. Metal provides the benefit of the best heat transfer, which may be important depending upon the application and environment. The lenses filters and port assembly are all combined to form the combination light conducting and heat insulating coupler and can be held rigidly together using conventional metal bracketing or casting or molded plastics. A metal heat sink housing is preferable to dissipate heat. The coupler may be sealed with caulks, glues, gaskets, fusing, ultrasonic welding, or any other conventional method which seals the system from moisture, dirt and air movement. If the light source requires either a transformer or ballast for operation, then the transformer or ballast are housed in yet another independent ballast housing which is independent of the light housing and also independent of the coupler housing. Because the lamp and reflector, along with the required ballast or transformer, are not an integral part of the optics, the need to design and manufacture an illuminator or light box or housing specific to each lamp or each class of lamps is no longer necessary or required as is the case with the prior art. The optics of the present invention are therefore generally universal and can be used with any lamp, sunlight, or other light source. To maximize efficiency with certain light sources, slight changes in the lenses may be needed. While the optics coupler, lamp and the fiber optic port are all independent, they nevertheless can be made such that they are readily mounted together and made integral to the housing for the application, thus eliminating the need for an illuminator as such.

For example, the optic coupler housing or package can be mounted to the structural side of a jewelry display case in the lower cabinet. Any lamp and reflector combination could then be attached to the case wall directly and allowed to focus into the collimating lens. The lamp/reflector assembly can be shrouded to meet code approvals such as those of UL and can be easily accessed for cleaning and/or replacement. The optics, provided the integrity of seal is not broken, should never require cleaning except for the outer surfaces of the collimating lens.

This modular optics coupler also lends itself easily to packaging inside of a weatherproof or burial box as well as into a heat sinkable package. Likewise the optics coupler housing can be packaged and evacuated according to standard manufacturing processes to lend itself well to aerospace applications.

As an alternative design, the second or focusing lens in the light coupler may be eliminated so that the light is captured by a lens means such as a large tube or large diameter light pipe or large diameter bundle of fibers or projected directly into air. In these cases, the field optical coupler will offer a source of parallel light. Applications for this may be used in conjunction with very powerful lamps, such as those used for stage and theater lighting or powerful surgeon spot lighting. Thus, objects are controlled but are sealed from the environment and may offer miniaturization as large, complex reflectors are not needed. The light delivered by this system contains essentially no UV or IR light, thus offering "cold" light which has benefits for many applications including, but not limited to, medical and theater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages appear hereinafter in the following description and claims. The accompanying drawings show, for the purpose of exemplification, without limiting the invention or claims thereto, certain practical embodiments illustrating the principals of the present invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the modular fiber optic illumination system of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic representation illustrating a modification of the modular fiber optic illumination system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of yet another modification of the modular fiber optic illumination system of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of another embodiment of the modular fiber optic illumination system of the present invention which utilizes the sun as the light illumination source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 , an embodiment 10 of the modular fiber optic illumination system of the present invention is schematically illustrated.

The modular illumination system includes a light housing 11, housing a mechanism 12 for projecting light within and beyond light housing 11 along axis 13, and optical fiber light transmission conduit or media 14, a port 15 for optical transmission media 14 and a combination light conducting and heat insulating coupler 16.

Any suitable light source normally of 150 watts minimal to over 1,000 watts may be utilized, such as, incandescent light, high intensity discharge light or sunlight. In FIG. 1 , the light source 12 is illustrated as a quartz halogen lamp using a converging reflector 25 and an optional transformer 17 for energization. Reference numeral 17 also represents a ballast in the event that the light source 12 is selected to be a high intensity discharge lamp, such as a high intensity arc discharge lamp.

The apparatus of the present invention may also be employed with 20 some watt bulbs for use in medical or automobile head light applications.

Transformer or Ballast 17 is housed within an independent housing 18 and is supplied with energization from a conventional electrical source through electrical plug 20. In addition, the power could be any source of electrical or electro-magnetic energy, including, but not limited to, microwave radiation.

Coupler 16 is provided with spaced lenses 21 and 22 which are cooperatively arranged as a light guide and mounted in sealed lens housing 23 for coupler 16.

Coupler housing 16 and ballast housing 18 are truly independent of light housing 11. All three housings are securely mounted to a common mounting surface 24, which in this instance is in fact the housing for an item to be illuminated by the modular fiber optic illumination system 10 of the present invention. For example, the housing 24 to which the system is mounted could typically be the structural side wall of a jewelry display case (not shown) in the lower cabinet thereof.

Light source 12 is often provided with a conventional circular or elliptical reflector 25 which is light converging in FIG. 1 and functional to project the light from source 12 along projection axis 13 and to additionally focus the projected light onto plano¬ concave collimating lens 21 of coupler 16.

Optical fiber light transmission conduit or media 14 as illustrated may take on the form of any conventional light transmission optical media such as glass or plastic fibers, fiber bundles, tubes or rods. For purposes of illustration, it is considered that fiber optic media 14 in this instance is a plastic optical fiber bundle, the distal end 26 of which is adapted for receiving light and transmitting such light to a proximal end (not shown) thereof for emission.

Fiber optic media 14 is received and supported at its distal end 26 in port 15 which is secured to, in this instance, and aligned with housing 23 of coupler 16 for aligned reception of light transmitted through coupler 16 from source 12.

Coupler 16 is aligned between light housing 11 and port 15 for transmitting the projected light from housing 11 and light source 12 along axis 13 to the distal end 26 of optical fiber media 14.

Coupler housing 23 is sealed so that the optics contained therein should never require cleaning, except for the outer surface of collimating lens 21. This sealed optics package of coupler 16 therefore readily lends itself to weatherproof or burial applications or to explosive environments. The housing 23 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, glass, plastic or any other rigid or semi-rigid material. However, the housing illustrated in FIG. 1 is constructed of metal as it provides greater benefit of the best heat transfer. The lenses 21 and 22 and the port assembly 15 are held rigidly in place using conventional metal securing fasteners and the system is sealed with conventional caulks, glues, caskets, fusing and/or ultrasonic welding, or any other conventional method which seals the system from moisture, dirt and air movement.

The housing 23 may, for example, be constructed of extruded aluminum tubing which is black anodized both inside and out. By anodizing the inside, stray light is absorbed as early as possible therein for quick dissipation. The exterior of housing 23 may also be heat sinked (See FIG. 4) to get rid or dissipate the heat. The outside of the tubular housing 23 is also anodized black to allow for more efficient radiation of heat from the outer surface. This will make the fiber optic port 15 as cool as possible at distal end 26 of the fiber optic media 14. As an altemative the interior of housing 23 may be highly polished to mirror or reflect light for maximum light transmission.

Due to the fact that the ballast or transformer 17 is totally isolated from illuminator or light housing 11, and further in view of the fact that coupler 16 adequately distances and isolates the light source 12 from distal end 27 of optical media 14, no additional ventilation equipment such as a motorized ventilation fan is required, thereby providing a truly modular system which is extremely small and compact. Collimating lens 21 is positioned for receiving light projected along axis 13 from converging source 12 and for collimating and further transmitting the received light to focusing lens 22. Focusing lens 22 in turn is configured or shaped to focus the collimated light on distal end 26 of the optical fiber light transmission media 14. The light projected from source 12 is focused onto collimating lens 21 by means of circular or elliptical reflector 25.

However, even a third lens (not shown) may be utilized in the port assembly area between focusing lens 22 and port 15 to further reduce the size of the light spot or area as required to mate the distal end 26 of the optical fiber bundle 14. Such a third lens would typically be a plano-convex lens.

Conventional UV and IR light filters 28 are secured to the light receiving forward end of coupler housing 16. This can also be equally well accomplished by using dichroic coatings on the interior of circular or elliptical reflector 25 and/or by having special coatings applied to the surface or surfaces of collimating lens 21, which will be illustrated hereinafter in FIG. 2. The system may be used in other cases without either UV or IR filtering.

Lenses 21 and 22 are preferably glass, but may also be acrylic or other clear material. Collimating lens 21 is preferably glass as it is closest to light source 12, may be a Fresnel lens, a plano-concave lens or a plano-convex lens, and can be coated with a coating 28 as illustrated in FIG. 2 to remove residual UV and IR light. Lamp reflector 25 may be metal, glass or plastic, but the most preferred is glass with dichroic coatings to eliminate UV and IR light. The light from source 12 as projected along axis 13 is focused directly onto collimating lens 22. Accordingly, it can be readily seen that as long as the respective housings 11 and 16 can be properly mounted and aligned on the application housing 24 the system will always work or properly operate. These separate components accordingly provide a truly modular approach not heretofore conceived for fiber optic illumination systems.

Also, because lamp 12 and reflector 25, along with ballast or transformer 17, if so equipped or required, are not an integral part of the optics package of coupler 16, the need to design and manufacture an illuminator or light box specific to each lamp or each class of lamps is no longer necessary . The sealed optics coupler 23 is largely universal and can be used with most lamps, sunlight, or other light sources. Thus, as illustrated, the lamp reflector combination of light housing 11 can be attached to a common display case wall 24 so that it is permitted to focus onto collimating lens 21 of sealed lens housing 16, wliich is also secured to the same wall 24. It is also desirable to rigidly secure reflector 25 directly to housing 23 to maintain proper focus of reflector 25 relative to lens 21.

Light housing 11 properly shrouds lamp 12 and reflector 25 to meet code approvals such as those set by UL and they also can be easily accessed for cleaning and/or replacement.

The modular fiber optic illumination system of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2 is basically the same as that illustrated in FIG. 1 and accordingly the same reference numerals are utilized. The major differences with the illustration embodiment of FIG. 2 is that light source 12 in this instance does not require the use of a ballast or transformer. Also, fiber optic media 14 in this illustration is comprised of a circular arrangement of plastic optic fibers 14', and in a similar manner, are mounted and retained in port 15.

An additional major difference with the illustration embodiment of FIG. 2 is that the port assembly 23' of housing 23 is moveable as indicated by the arrow to allow adjustment of the exiting light spot size or area of the focused hght to be matched to the size of the fiber optic cable or bundle distal end 26. Removable port assembly 23' is sealed with the use of a seal ring such as Teflon^® ring 29 or a similar structure which allows for movement with dust and moisture protection. The horizontal adjustment of port assembly 23' relative to housing 23 and focus lens 22 may be made adjustable by any convenient mechanism, such as a threaded connection between the two or by the use of a slide mechanism which may be firmly locked into position after the proper adjustment has been attained.

Focusing lens 22 is in turn replaced by facetted or segmented focusing lens 22' which respectively divides the transmitted light and appropriately transmits the segmented light to the respective fibers 14' at their light receiving distal interface ends 26 for transmission. Here again, port 15 is secured to or mounted on coupler housing 23 in sealed relationship. As previously mentioned, UV and/or IV filter coating 28 is also provided on the light receiving area of collimating lens 21.

FIG. 3 illustrates yet another variation of the modular fiber optic illumination system of the present invention wherein a hemispherical connector port 15 is used with a light focusing/disbursing lens 22" which disburses and projects the light onto hemispherically positioned plastic optical fibers 14". The port may be conventionally coupled to coupler housing 23 by conventional means such as plastic threaded port connectors metal heat sink connectors and grids etc.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, reflector 25 is a diverging reflector as indicated by the cross lighting patte , instead of a converging reflector as illustrated in all the other embodiments, such that a plano-convex collimating lens 21 is required. The exact curvature of collimating lens 21, whether concave or convex, depends upon the shape and angular composition of light coming out of the reflector 25. The focusing lens 22" is plano-convex, or convex-piano, as opposed to being double convex as shown in FIG. 2 in order to properly mate the transmitted light to the distal ends 26 of light fibers 14".

The configuration of FIG. 4 illustrates the modular fiber optic illumination system of the present invention which is illuminated from the sun 30 or other bright light source. Sunlight from sun 30 is collected by collector 31 and then transmitted by a conventional light transmission media 32 for focused transmission from source 12 within light housing 11. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the second lens or focusing lens 22 is replaced by the light receiving end 26 of fiber optic media 14 as second or receiving lens 22.

In addition light housing 11, lens housing 23 and port 15 are all mounted together or interconnected and may be readily disconnected for substitution of either one of these three elements, thereby providing a truly modular and interchangeable system.

In addition, metal coupler housing 23 is also provided with heat dissipating fins 33 thereby converting coupler housing 23 into an effective heat sink. The sealed coupler 16 maintains the distal end or interface 26 of plastic optical fiber transmission device 14 at a temperature which is 50 ^°C or less, thereby preventing bum-out.

Fins 33 may also be integrally extruded onto housing 23 so that they run longitudinally and they may also be internally provided in housing 23.

The term "lens means" when used in the appended claims includes, but is not limited to, lenses (such as plano-convex, plano-concave, double convex, complex convex- concave, Fresnel lens, etc.), windows, heat mirrors, filters such as IV and UV filters, and the distal end interface of the optical fiber light transmission device or media employed. The lens means selected for the coupler will depend upon the type of light source 12 and reflector 25 combination selected, it will depend upon the type of optical fiber light transmission media 14 selected and the ultimate application to which the illumination system is to be applied. For example, if an inappropriate reflector 25 must be incorporated into the system of the present invention which has a focal length which is too short so that all of the light being reflected from reflector 25 cannot be appropriately concentrated to collimating first lens 21, then lens 21 is more appropriately selected as a simple window or a filter, instead of a collimating lens, as under these stated circumstances, a collimating lens cannot effectively collimate and utilize all of the light concentrated from the reflector 25.

Another advantage ofthe modular fiber optic illumination system ofthe present invention is that, unlike those systems of the prior art, it is capable of readily incorporating and utilizing glass jacketed high intensity discharge lamps such as metal halide lamps with glass jackets or envelopes, which by their very nature filter out unwanted UV light. The fiber optic lighting systems of the prior art are not modular and cannot incoφorate such large glass jacketed metal halide lamps and are forced to use the much smaller high intensity discharge lamps which require a quartz jacket or envelope.

Quartz jackets or envelopes, by their very nature, do not filter out unwanted UV light.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A fiber optic illumination system comprising: a light source for providing light projected along said axis; optical fiber light transmission media positioned for receiving said projected light at a distal end thereof and transmitting said light to a proximal end thereof for emission; a port for receiving and supporting said distal end of said light transmission media for aligned reception of said projected light; and a combination light conducting and heat insulating coupler including multiple spaced lens means cooperatively arranged as a light guide and mounted in a sealed lens housing which is independent of said light source, said coupler aligned between said light source and said port for transmitting said projected light from said light source to said distal end of said optical fiber light transmission media and thereby providing a modular fiber optic illumination system which protects said distal end from bum-out.

2. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 wherein said light source is a light source selected from a group consisting of incandescent light, high intensity discharge light and sun light of at least 150 watts.

3. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 wherein said light source is an artificial light source requiring and including a transformer or ballast for operation, and including a ballast housing independent of said light source and housing said transformer or ballast independent of said light housing.

4. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1, said light source including a light reflector.

5. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 4, said light source excluding a motorized ventilation fan.

6. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 , said multiple spaced lens means including a collimating lens positioned for receiving said light from said light source and at least one focusing lens for receiving collimated light from said collimating lens and focusing it on said distal end of said optical fiber light transmission media.

7. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 6, said light source including a lamp reflector for focusing said light on to said collimating lens.

8. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 6, said optical fiber light transmission media including multiple optical light transmission fibers having distal and proximal ends, said at least one focusing lens comprised of a multi-segmented lens adapted and positioned for dividing and focusing said collimated light onto said multiple distal ends.

9. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 , said multiple spaced lens means including first a collimating lens positioned for receiving said light from said light source and secondly said distal end of said optical fiber transmission media for receiving collimated light from said collimating lens.

10. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 9 wherein said optical fiber transmission media is selected from a group of light transmitters consisting of light transmission fibers, light transmission fiber bundles, light transmission tubes and light transmission rods.

11. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 wherein said optical fiber transmission media is selected from a group of light transmitters consisting of light transmission fibers, light transmission fiber bundles, light transmission tubes and light transmission rods.

12. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 2 wherein said optical fiber transmission media is plastic.

13. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 12 wherein interface temperature at said distal end of said plastic optical fiber transmission media is less than 50^°C.

14. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1, said coupler including light filtering means for filtering out unwanted hght frequencies in said light as projected.

15. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 wherein said port is mounted on said lens housing.

16. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 15 wherein said port is adjustable in distance from a focusing lens in said coupler housing for focusing light from said focusing lens to match the distal end of said optical fiber transmission media.

17. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 wherein said light source , lens housing and port are inter-connectable.

18. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 wherein said lens housing is metal.

19. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 18 wherein said metal lens housing includes a heat sink.

20. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 1 wherein said sealed lens housing is weatherproof.

21. The fiber optic illumination system of claim 2, said light source including a high intensity discharge lamp having a glass jacket.