Optical guide shaped by laser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10401545-B2
Application number	US-201816023893-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2018
Priority date	Jun 30, 2017
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a light optical guide, including the following steps: providing the optical guide extending in a main direction, the guide having an outer surface; producing along the outer surface of the optical guide, in the main direction, diffusing or reflecting patterns which can make the light exit the guide; and wherein the diffusing or reflecting patterns are produced by using a laser ray on the outer surface of the optical guide.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a light optical guide, comprising:
producing along a main direction of an outer surface of the light optical guide, the light optical guide extending in the main direction, reflecting patterns which make the light exit the light optical guide, wherein
the reflecting patterns are produced by using a laser ray on the outer surface of the light optical guide.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, the light optical guide has a constant cross-section.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, the light optical guide is produced by extrusion.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises producing the light optical guide by extrusion prior to producing the reflecting patterns.

5. The method according to o claim 1 , wherein the light optical guide is made of transparent or translucent thermoplastic material, in the range of the transparent wavelengths, made from poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the producing reflecting patterns, the laser ray is emitted by a CO 2 laser emitting in the infrared range between 9.4 μm and 10.6 μm.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the producing the reflecting patterns, the configuration of the patterns changes along the main direction of the guide.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
polishing at least one end face of the light optical guide by using a laser ray on the face.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
polishing at least one end face of the light optical guide by mechanical polishing and/or hot-plating of the face.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, the light optical guide has at least one longitudinal rib, and the method further comprises:
producing at least one notch in the at least one longitudinal rib by removing matter via illumination of a laser ray.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one notch is located less than 50 mm from an end face of the light optical guide.

12. A light optical guide made from transparent or translucent material, in the range of the visible wavelengths, extending in a main direction, the light optical guide comprising:
reflecting patterns along an outer surface of the light optical guide in the main direction; and
at least one longitudinal rib, the at least one longitudinal rib forming at least one notch less than 50 mm from an end face of the light optical guide.

13. The light optical guide according to claim 12 , wherein the light optical guide has a portion extending from the end face up to a distance from the at least one notch, the portion not having a rib.

14. The light optical guide according to claim 12 , wherein the light optical guide has a generally circular or oval constant cross-section.

15. The light optical guide according to claim 12 , wherein there are two, diametrically opposite, longitudinal ribs.

16. The light optical guide according to claim 12 , wherein there are at least two notches at different positions in the main direction.

17. A light optical module comprising:
an area for receiving a light optical guide, wherein
the light optical guide is made from transparent or translucent material, in the range of the visible wavelengths, extending in a main direction, it comprises reflecting patterns along an outer surface thereof in the main direction and at least one longitudinal rib, the at least one longitudinal rib forming at least one notch less than 50 mm from an end face of the light optical guide, and
the area for receiving the light optical guide forms a bushing that receives an end of the light optical guide and engages the at least one notch of the light optical guide.

18. The light module according to claim 17 , wherein the bushing comprises at least one groove formed inside the bushing and is configured to engage the at least one notch during a rotation of the guide.

19. The light module according to claim 17 , wherein the the bushing comprises at least one slat that elastically deforms when the light optical guide is inserted into the bushing and then engages the at least one notch of the light optical guide.

20. The light module according to claim 17 , wherein the light module comprises the light optical guide.

Assignees

• Valeo Vision

Inventors

• Albessard Jean-Marc
• Rasoldier Nirina
• Le Corre Jerome
• Liard Laurent
• Ducloux Bruno
• Lefebvre Alexandre

Classifications

• G02B6/0065

  Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects · CPC title

• G02B6/0043

  provided on the surface of the light guide · CPC title

• B23K2103/42

  Plastics other than composite materials · CPC title

• B23K2101/20

  Tools · CPC title

• B23K26/402

  involving non-metallic material, e.g. isolators · CPC title