This invention relates to an illuminated system and, more specifically, to an optical dispersion system, wherein light provided through fiber optic fibers are magnified, reflected and refracted to produce a more brilliantly illuminated appearance.
With the advent of fiber optic lighting, many devices which have used other forms of lighting have begun moving away from other lighting systems, such as neon lights, to provide color-specific illumination of signs. Fiber optic lighting is used for many various types of signs. Such examples include signs that advertise businesses, billboards, and channel letters.
Typically, fiber optic lighting is used under two different concepts. The first is using the end, tip, or end glow, of a fiber strand, with a plurality of other fiber strands to produce the desired features of the sign. Under this concept, a greater number of strands are needed to produce the illustrated effect desired by a user. Viewing the a sign using fiber optic strands in this configuration, an observer can see the individual strands appearing as dots when viewed from certain distances from the sign.
Under another concept, instead of using the end of the fiber optic cables, the longitudinal side of a strand, or a bundle of strands are used to provide the desired illumination, referred to as side glow. Applicant believes that this concept is limiting, since even though this approach may be ideal for spelling out words, the amount of lamination is limited.
In view of the perceived limitations of the current state of the art, manufacturers of products, such as, but not limited, signs, including billboards, would benefit from an illumination system in which fiber optics are used to provide illumination. Such individuals would also benefit from fiber optic signage wherein the illumination emitting from a sign is uniform, even when viewed from various angles. Additionally users would benefit from an illumination system that consumes less electricity since fewer optical strands are illuminated which in turn is more environmentally beneficial since fewer strands would need to be manufactured.