Illumination fiber optic ribbon

Abstract

An illumination fiber optic ribbon includes optically-transmissive fibers which are adjacent to each other. At least two of the optically-transmissive fibers are twisted together to form a twisted segment. Where the two optically-transmissive fibers are not twisted forms a non-twisted segment. The twisted segments and non-twisted segments alternate along the length of the ribbon. Bends are disposed along the twisted segment and are formed by twisting adjacent optically-transmissive fibers. A light source is connected to one or both end of the optically-transmissive fibers. The light source emits a light flux into the ribbon so that light emits from the bends in the twisted segment.

1 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon, comprising of:
 a plurality of optically-transmissive fibers disposed adjacent to each other, at least two of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers being twisted together to form a twisted segment and said at least two optically-transmissive fibers being parallel to one another to form a non-twisted segment, said twisted and non-twisted segments alternating along a length of said ribbon;   a plurality of bends disposed along said twisted segments, the plurality of bends formed by the twisting of adjacent optically-transmissive fibers; and   at least one of said non-twisted segments being capable of connection to a light source disposed at one or both ends of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers, said light source emitting a light flux into said twisted and non-twisted segments of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers so that light therefrom is emitted from said plurality of bends along said twisted segments.   
   
   
       2 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers includes
 a core of optically-transparent material having a first index of refraction; and   a cladding surrounding said core, said cladding having a second index of refraction different than said first index of refraction of said core.   
   
   
       3 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of bends change the second index of refraction so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       4 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 2 , wherein the second index of refraction is distorted chemically or mechanically so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       5 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 2 , wherein said cladding is disrupted so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       6 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 1 , further comprising of a sheath substantially enclosing said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers. 
   
   
       7 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 6 , wherein said sheath is coupled to said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers. 
   
   
       8 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 7 , wherein said sheath is coupled only to said twisted segments by an adhesive film. 
   
   
       9 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 7 , wherein said coupling is by an adhesive film, said adhesive film disposed on an inner surface of said sheath. 
   
   
       10 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 9 , wherein said adhesive film is a polyester adhesive. 
   
   
       11 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 6 , wherein said sheath is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       12 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 6 , wherein a portion of said sheath is opaque. 
   
   
       13 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 6 , wherein a portion of said sheath is formed of reflective material. 
   
   
       14 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 1 , wherein said light source is an electrically-powered light source, a solar-powered light source, or a natural light source. 
   
   
       15 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of bends per unit length increases as said length of said ribbon increases. 
   
   
       16 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon, comprising of:
 a plurality of optically-transmissive fibers disposed adjacent to each other, at least two of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers being twisted together to form a twisted segment and said at least two optically-transmissive fibers being parallel to one another to form a non-twisted segment, said twisted and non-twisted segments alternating along a length of said ribbon;   a plurality of bends disposed along said twisted segments, the plurality of bends formed by the twisting of adjacent optically-transmissive fibers;   at least one of said non-twisted segments being capable of connection to a light source disposed at one or both ends of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers, said light source emitting a light flux into said twisted and non-twisted segments of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers so that light therefrom is emitted from said plurality of bends along said twisted segments; and   a sheath substantially enclosing said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers.   
   
   
       17 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 16 , wherein each of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers includes
 a core of optically-transparent material having a first index of refraction; and   a cladding surrounding said core, said cladding having a second index of refraction different than said first index of refraction of said core.   
   
   
       18 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of bends change the second index of refraction so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       19 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 17 , wherein the second index of refraction is distorted chemically or mechanically so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       20 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 17 , wherein said cladding is disrupted so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       21 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 16 , wherein said sheath is coupled to said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers. 
   
   
       22 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 21 , wherein said sheath is coupled only to said twisted segments. 
   
   
       23 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 21 , wherein said coupling is by an adhesive film, said adhesive film disposed on an inner surface of said sheath. 
   
   
       24 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 23 , wherein said adhesive film is a polyester adhesive. 
   
   
       25 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 16 , wherein said sheath is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       26 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 16 , wherein a portion of said sheath is opaque. 
   
   
       27 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 16 , wherein a portion of said sheath is formed of reflective material. 
   
   
       28 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 16 , wherein said light source is an electrically-powered light source, a solar-powered light source, or a natural light source. 
   
   
       29 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 17 , wherein said plurality of bends per unit length increases as said length of said ribbon increases. 
   
   
       30 . A method of manufacturing an illumination fiber optic ribbon, comprising the steps of:
 disposing a plurality of optically-transmissive fibers adjacent to one another;   twisting adjacent optically-transmissive fibers in a portion of a length of the ribbon to form a twisted segment;   forming a plurality of bends at a cladding on each of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers by the twisting;   providing a non-twisted segment in a portion of the length of the ribbon in which adjacent optically-transmissive fibers are not twisted; and   alternating the non-twisted segments with the twisted segments.   
   
   
       31 . A method of manufacturing an illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of coupling the plurality of optically-transmissive fibers to a sheath. 
   
   
       32 . A method of manufacturing an illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of coupling only the twisted segments to a sheath. 
   
   
       33 . A method of manufacturing an illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of disposing a light source at one or both ends of the plurality of optically-transmissive fibers, the light source emitting a light flux into the end of the plurality of optically-transmissive fibers. 
   
   
       34 . A method of manufacturing an illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of corona etching the plurality of optically-transmissive fibers prior to coupling the optically-transmissive fibers to the sheath. 
   
   
       35 . A method of manufacturing an illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of distorting the cladding chemically or mechanically so that a light ray can emit through the cladding. 
   
   
       36 . A method of manufacturing an illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of disrupting the cladding so that a light ray can emit through the cladding. 
   
   
       37 . A method of manufacturing an illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 30 , further comprising the step of increasing the plurality of bends per unit length as the length of the ribbon increases. 
   
   
       38 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon, comprising:
 a plurality of optically-transmissive fibers disposed adjacent to each other, at least two of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers being twisted together to form a twisted segment and said at least two optically-transmissive fibers being parallel to one another to form a non-twisted segment, said twisted and non-twisted segments alternating along a length of said ribbon;   a plurality of bends along said twisted segment formed by the twisting of adjacent optically-transmissive fibers, said plurality of bends per unit length increasing as said length of said ribbon increases; and   at least one of said non-twisted segments being capable of connection to a light source disposed at one or both ends of the plurality of optically-transmissive fibers, said light source emitting a light flux into said twisted and non-twisted segments of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers so that light therefrom is emitted from said plurality of bends along the twisted segments.   
   
   
       39 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 38 , wherein each of said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers includes
 a core of optically-transparent material having a first index of refraction; and   a cladding surrounding said core, said cladding having a second index of refraction different than said first index of refraction of said core.   
   
   
       40 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 39 , wherein said plurality of bends change the second index of refraction so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       41 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 39 , wherein the second index of refraction is distorted chemically or mechanically so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       42 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 39 , wherein said cladding is disrupted so that a light ray in said core can emit through said cladding. 
   
   
       43 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 38 , further comprising of a sheath substantially enclosing said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers. 
   
   
       44 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 43 , wherein said sheath is coupled to said plurality of optically-transmissive fibers. 
   
   
       45 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 44 , wherein said sheath is coupled only to said twisted segments by an adhesive film. 
   
   
       46 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 44 , wherein said coupling is by an adhesive film, said adhesive film disposed on an inner surface of said sheath. 
   
   
       47 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 46 , wherein said adhesive film is a polyester adhesive. 
   
   
       48 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 43 , wherein said sheath is substantially transparent. 
   
   
       49 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 43 , wherein a portion of said sheath is opaque. 
   
   
       50 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 43 , wherein a portion of said sheath is formed of reflective material. 
   
   
       51 . An illumination fiber optic ribbon according to  claim 38 , wherein said light source is an electrically-powered light source, a solar-powered light source, or a natural light source.