JPS61277905A - Light converging fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need to set an optical axis in consideration of a light source and a light convergence point when light is converged by forming a micro reflecting surface at a center part. CONSTITUTION:A part 1 is the core part of an optical fiber, a part 2 is a sheath part which has a smaller refractive index than the core part, and a part 3 is an opaque part which is in the center of the optical fiber and reflects light. Light 5 is reflected light at the same angle with incident light 4 after being reflected by the center part and the incident light 4 is reflected irregularity at the opaque part and confined in the optical fiber to obtain light 6. Incident light 4' after reflected at the opaque part is reflected while traveling around the center part as shown by paths 6', 6'', 6'''....

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to optical fibers for collecting light or methods of using optical fibers for collecting light.

[Conventional technology]

The technology of collecting light has been used for a long time. Lenses were most commonly used, and mirrors were also frequently used.

Light has been used since ancient times as energy and as a signal. In recent years, as the development of optical fibers has progressed, the use of light as a signal has become more sophisticated.

It is also being considered that the light could be transmitted as light and used as lighting.

However, as a method for collecting light, there is no other method other than lenses.

Lenses have excellent light-gathering ability, but they are bulky and require careful attention to the optical axis of the lens.

As a material for the purpose of focusing light, Bayer's light focusing plate (
There is a LISA sheet). This is because the incident light is wavelength-converted by the fluorescent dye dispersed inside the board, and the direction of this wavelength-converted light is different from the incident angle, and most of it is reflected by the surface of the board, resulting in condensation. It has become.

Therefore, the biggest technical difference between the present invention and Bayer's light condensing plate is that in Bayer's light condensing plate, the focused light is fluorescence and has a specific wavelength, whereas in the present invention, the light is focused by fluorescence and has a specific wavelength. This means that the incident light is the same as the incident light.

This is a trap because the light collection methods are fundamentally different.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention aims to provide a completely new light condensing method, which solves the drawbacks of conventional light condensing methods, namely, when using a lens, the light source and the condensing point are placed on both the incident side and the transmission side of the optical axis. This is an attempt to eliminate the drawback that it was necessary to take these settings into consideration.

In addition, when concentrating light with a mirror, it is necessary to set the optical axis in consideration of the light source and the condensing point, and if the light source moves like in the case of sunlight, it is necessary to set the optical axis. If you don't do this, in extreme cases,
This is an attempt to eliminate the drawback that the light condensing effect is completely lost.

The present invention aims to collect light in a bright place without paying special attention to the optical axis, and provides a material that can have a plurality of light sources and collects light where it is present.

[Means for solving problems]

The principle of the light focusing method according to the present invention is based on the principle that the light does not go out of the fiber due to total reflection or refraction at the fiber surface part of the optical fiber, and the principle that the optical axis of the light is bent by reflection. It's a clever combination.

The light-converging fiber of the present invention is basically composed of a step-index type or gradient-end index type optical fiber in which the surface portion is made of a transparent material whose refractive index is lower than that of the inside. is composed of microscopic reflective surfaces.

Light incident from the side of the optical fiber is reflected at the center of the fiber, and a portion of the light is reflected or refracted at the side of the fiber and is trapped inside the fiber and moves in the fiber axis direction. .

Of course, while the light is traveling within the fiber, a portion of it is reflected at the center of the fiber and projects out of the fiber at a large angle with respect to the fiber axis.

Therefore, not all of the light that enters the fiber is taken into the fiber and integrated, but the light is integrated into one cross section of the fiber for the length of the fiber that is hit by the light. It comes together in shape.

The light-converging fiber of the present invention is a step-index type or gradient-end index type optical fiber in which the surface portion is made of a transparent material with a lower refractive index than the inside, and the center portion is formed at various angles along the fiber axis. It has a configuration that includes a reflective portion that reflects light.

The reflective part inside the fiber can be created by forming an opaque core using a core-sheath molding method, by inserting a wax-like core, or by making the surface of the core uneven to disturb the angle of the light. A variety of methods can be used, such as foaming the core or making only the center opaque using fiber self-polymerization.

The light collecting fiber of the present invention will be explained using the drawings.

The drawings are for explaining the cross-sectional structure of the light-concentrating fiber of the present invention, and in the drawing (1) is the core portion of the optical fiber, and (2) is the sheath portion having a smaller refractive index than the core portion. (3) is an opaque portion located at the center of the optical fiber that reflects light.

(4) is the incident light, and (5) is the reflected light that is reflected at the center and comes out of the optical fiber at the same angle as the incident light.

(6) is light in which the incident light in (4) is diffusely reflected by the opaque portion in (3) and the internal pressure of the optical fiber is confined.

Looking at these in cross-sectional view, in Figure 2, after the incident light (4') is reflected at the central opaque part, (6')
, (6'), (6''')... It is reflected while going around the center.

Of course, the optical path shown in FIG. 2 is just an example, but the state of convergence can be understood.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The light-concentrating fiber of the present invention enables a completely new light-concentrating method that is different from the case of using lenses. If this is used, light can be collected by considering the light source and focal point when concentrating light. There is no need to make any axis settings.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the structure of the longitudinal section and cross section of the light-concentrating fiber of the present invention, respectively, and the main symbols in the figures are as follows: (1) Core portion (2)
) Sheath part (3) Light reflecting part (4) Incident light (6) # (6')l (6')l (6' Reflected light + 1 Figure C'I-2)

Claims (1)

[Claims] Based on the basic structure of a light-transmitting optical fiber, the center part of the fiber reflects light diffusely in the fiber axis direction,
A light condensing fiber characterized in that a part of the light incident from the side surface of the fiber causes diffuse reflection at the diffuse reflection structure portion, is confined within the optical fiber, and the light is collected along the fiber axis.