Fiber optic light pipes integrated into a textile via weft knitting

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for a knitted textile with integrated fiber optic light pipes and systems and methods for using such a knitted textile. According to one embodiment, a knitted textile can comprise a woven fabric, one or more fiber optic light pipes woven into a plurality of courses within the woven fabric, and two or more supporting structures disposed at opposite sides of the knitted textile. The one or more fiber optic light pipes can be woven into the plurality of courses within the woven fabric, can extend beyond an edge of the woven fabric, and can wrap around each of the two or more supporting structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knitted textile comprising:
 a woven fabric;   one or more fiber optic light pipes woven into a plurality of courses within the woven fabric; and   two or more supporting structures disposed at opposite sides of the knitted textile, wherein the one or more fiber optic light pipes are woven into the plurality of courses within the woven fabric, extend beyond an edge of the woven fabric, and wrap around each of the two or more supporting structures.   
     
     
         2 . The knitted textile of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more supporting structures each have a diameter greater than a minimum bending radius of the one or more fiber optic light pipes. 
     
     
         3 . The knitted textile of  claim 2 , wherein the two or more supporting structures each have a diameter equal to or greater than five millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The knitted textile of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fiber optic light pipes are woven into the plurality of courses within the woven fabric by a three-dimensional knitting process. 
     
     
         5 . The knitted fabric of  claim 4 , wherein the three-dimensional knitting process comprises a weft knitting process. 
     
     
         6 . The knitted textile of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fiber optic light pipes comprises a plurality of separate fiber optic light pipes. 
     
     
         7 . The knitted textile of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of separate fiber optic light pipes is individually addressable. 
     
     
         8 . A lighted fabric panel system comprising:
 a knitted textile comprising:
 a woven fabric, 
 one or more fiber optic light pipes woven into a plurality of courses within the woven fabric, and 
 two or more supporting structures disposed at opposite sides of the knitted textile, wherein the one or more fiber optic light pipes are woven into the plurality of courses within the woven fabric, extend beyond an edge of the woven fabric, and wrap around each of the two or more supporting structures; 
   one or more light sources, each of the one or more light sources optically coupled with one of the one or more fiber optic light pipes;   a processor electrically coupled with each of the one or more light sources; and   a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and having stored therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
 determine a color or a pattern for the knitted textile, and 
 adjust the one or more light sources based on the determined color or pattern for the knitted textile. 
   
     
     
         9 . The lighted fabric panel system of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more input devices electrically coupled with the processor and wherein the instructions further cause the processor to receive an input signal from each of the one or more input devices and determine the color of the pattern for the knitted textile based on the received input signal from each of the one or more input devices. 
     
     
         10 . The lighted fabric panel system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more input devices comprises a clock and wherein the instructions cause the processor to determine the color of the pattern for the knitted textile based on an elapsed time or a time of day. 
     
     
         11 . The lighted fabric panel system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more input devices comprises a sound source. 
     
     
         12 . The lighted fabric panel system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more input devices comprises an accelerometer. 
     
     
         13 . The lighted fabric panel system of  claim 12 , wherein the determined color or pattern for the knitted textile indicates motion. 
     
     
         14 . The lighted fabric panel system of  claim 12 , wherein the determined color or pattern for the knitted textile indicates a change in direction. 
     
     
         15 . The lighted fabric panel system of  claim 12 , wherein the knitted textile is installed on an interior surface of a passenger vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A method for producing a knitted textile, the method comprising:
 disposing two or more supporting structures disposed at opposite sides of the knitted textile;   weaving one or more fiber optic light pipes into a plurality of courses within a woven fabric of the knitted textile, wherein the one or more fiber optic light pipes are extend beyond an edge of the woven fabric, and wrap around each of the two or more supporting structures; and   tightening the one or more fiber optic light pipes around the supporting structures.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the two or more supporting structures each have a diameter greater than a minimum bending radius of the one or more fiber optic light pipes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more fiber optic light pipes are woven into the plurality of courses within the woven fabric by a three-dimensional knitting process. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the three-dimensional knitting process comprises a weft knitting process. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more fiber optic light pipes comprises a plurality of separate fiber optic light pipes and wherein each of the plurality of separate fiber optic light pipes is individually addressable.