Optoelectronic Fiber as well as Apparatus and Method for Manufacturing an Optoelectronic Fiber

Abstract

An optoelectronic fiber, an apparatus for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber and a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber are disclosed. In an embodiment an optoelectronic fiber includes at least one carrier extending in a longitudinal direction, optoelectronic components arranged on the at least one carrier and a sheath extending in the longitudinal direction and surrounding the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components, wherein the sheath includes at least one thread guided around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components and/or at least one tape helically wound around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components, wherein at least one metal wire is integrated into the sheath and twisted, braided or interwoven with the at least one thread, and wherein the at least one metal wire is electrically coupled to at least one of the optoelectronic components.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. An optoelectronic fiber comprising: at least one carrier extending in a longitudinal direction; optoelectronic components arranged on the at least one carrier; and a sheath extending in the longitudinal direction and surrounding the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components, wherein the sheath comprises at least one thread guided around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components and/or at least one tape helically wound around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components, wherein at least one metal wire is integrated into the sheath and twisted, braided or interwoven with the at least one thread, and wherein the at least one metal wire is electrically coupled to at least one of the optoelectronic components.

24. The optoelectronic fiber according to claim 23, wherein the at least one thread comprises a plurality of threads which are twisted, braided or interwoven with each other.

25. The optoelectronic fiber according to claim 23, wherein the at least one carrier is formed by an extruded plastic carrier in which the optoelectronic components are embedded.

26. The optoelectronic fiber according to claim 23, wherein the at least one thread and/or the at least one tape are transparent or diffuse and/or contain a phosphor mixture and/or a conversion material.

27. A textile comprising: a plurality of textile threads; and the at least one optoelectronic fiber according to claim 23.

28. A moulded part comprising: the at least one optoelectronic fiber according to claim 23.

29. A device comprising: an assembly; and the at least one optoelectronic fiber according to claim 23, which is firmly connected to the assembly.

30. An optoelectronic fiber comprising: at least one carrier extending in a longitudinal direction and wound within itself; optoelectronic components arranged on the at least one carrier; and a sheath extending in the longitudinal direction and surrounding the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components, wherein the sheath is a hose, and wherein at least one electrical line is integrated in a wall of the hose.

31. The optoelectronic fiber according to claim 30, wherein the at least one electrical line is electrically coupled to at least one of the optoelectronic components.

32. An apparatus for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber, the apparatus comprising: a feeding device configured to feed at least one carrier which extends in a longitudinal direction and on which optoelectronic components are arranged; and a wrapping device configured to surround the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components with a sheath extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the wrapping device is configured to guide at least one thread around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components and/or to helically wind at least one tape around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the wrapping device is configured to integrate at least one metal wire into the sheath, which is twisted, braided or interwoven with the at least one thread, and wherein the at least one metal wire is electrically coupled to at least one of the optoelectronic components.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the wrapping device comprises a cross-linking device which is configured to cross-links together a plurality of threads guided around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components and/or the tape loops of the at least one tape wound helically around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components by melting or solidifying.

35. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the wrapping device comprises a rotatably mounted twisting device having a first recess and a plurality of second recesses, wherein the feeding device is configured to guide the at least one carrier with the optoelectronic components arranged thereon, coming from a first side of the twisting device, through the first recess, wherein the threads coming from the first side of the twisting device are each guided through one of the second recesses, and wherein the twisting device is configured to rotate such that the threads are guided around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components on a second side of the twisting device facing away from the first side.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the first recess is arranged in an axis of rotation of the twisting device.

37. The apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising at least one bobbin from which the at least one thread is unwound.

38. A method for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber, the method comprising: providing at least one carrier extending in a longitudinal direction; arranging optoelectronic components on the at least one carrier; and surrounding the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components with a sheath extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein at least one thread is guided around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components for manufacturing the sheath and/or at least one tape is wound helically around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components for manufacturing the sheath.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein at least one metal wire is integrated into the sheath and the at least one metal wire is twisted, braided or interwoven with the at least one thread, and wherein the at least one metal wire is electrically coupled to at least one of the optoelectronic components.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein the at least one thread comprises a plurality of threads which are twisted, interlaced or woven together.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein the threads guided around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components and/or a tape loops of the at least one tape wound helically around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components are cross-linked with one another by melting or solidification.

42. The method according to claim 38, wherein an extruded plastic carrier is produced which forms the carrier, and wherein the optoelectronic components are embedded in the extruded plastic carrier.

43. The method according to claim 38, further comprising: providing a rotatably mounted twisting device with a first recess and several second recesses, guiding the at least one carrier with the optoelectronic components arranged thereon through the first recess coming from a first side of the twisting device; guiding the threads coming from the first side of the twisting device through one of the second recesses; and rotating the twisting device such that the threads are guided around the at least one carrier and the optoelectronic components on a second side of the twisting device facing away from the first side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] In the following, examples of the invention are explained in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0049] FIG. 1A shows a sectional view of an example of an optoelectronic fiber;

[0050] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of an example of an apparatus and a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber;

[0051] FIGS. 3A to 3C show a perspective view of an example of a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an example of a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber;

[0053] FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of an example of a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber;

[0054] FIGS. 6A and 6B show perspective representations of examples of an optoelectronic fiber; and

[0055] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a perspective view and a sectional view of an example of an optoelectronic fiber.

[0056] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the attached drawings, which form part of this description and in which, for illustration purposes, specific examples of embodiments are shown in which the invention can be exercised. Since components of examples can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the terminology of directions is for illustration purposes only and is in no way restrictive. It is understood that other embodiments can be used and structural or logical changes can be made without deviating from the scope of protection. It is understood that the features of the different embodiments described herein may be combined with each other, unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is therefore not to be understood in a restrictive sense. In the figures, identical or similar elements are marked with identical reference signs, where appropriate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an example of an optoelectronic fiber 10, which is particularly suitable or intended for integration into a textile or molded part.

[0058] The optoelectronic fiber 10 comprises several carriers 11, on each of which several optoelectronic components 12 are arranged. FIG. 1 shows an example of two carriers 11 with three components 12 arranged on each carrier 11. However, the optoelectronic fiber 10 can also contain exactly one or more than two carriers 11. Furthermore, each of the carriers 11 can hold a desired number of optoelectronic components 12.

[0059] The carriers 11 extend in a longitudinal direction, which is shown in FIG. 1 by an arrow 13. In the longitudinal direction there is also a sheath 14 which surrounds the carriers 11 and the optoelectronic components 12. The sheath 14 may be formed either by one or more threads wound around the carriers 11 and the optoelectronic components 12 or by one or more tapes helically wound around the carriers 11 and the optoelectronic components 12. Furthermore, the sheath 14 can also consist of a braid of individual threads and a helically wound tape. The thread or threads and the tape or tapes are made of a plastic material in particular.

[0060] The optoelectronic components 12 can be designed in particular as LED chips. In addition to the optoelectronic components 12, other components can also be placed on the carriers 11.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an example of an apparatus 20 and a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber 10.

[0062] The apparatus 20 contains a feeding device not shown in FIG. 2, which serves to feed carriers 11 with optoelectronic components 12 arranged on them. The carriers 11 are fed to a wrapping device 22 along a direction indicated by an arrow 21 in FIG. 2. The feeding device may, for example, have a conveyor belt for feeding the carriers 11.

[0063] The wrapping device 22 has a rotatably mounted twisting device 23 and a likewise rotatably mounted unwinding device 24.

[0064] The twisting device 23 can essentially have the shape of a disc with an essentially circular circumference.

[0065] A first recess 25 is located in the axis of rotation of the twisting device 23, and several second recesses 26 are arranged along the circumference of the twisting device 23. The first and second recesses 25, 26 each extend from a first side 28 of the twisting device 23 to a second side 29 of the twisting device 23 opposite the first side 28.

[0066] The unwinding device 24 can essentially have the shape of a disc with an essentially circular circumference. Several bobbins 30 are arranged along the circumference of the unwinding device 24, onto which a respective thread 32 is wound.

[0067] The feeding device feeds the carriers 11 with the optoelectronic components 12 arranged on them to the twisting device 23 in such a way that the carriers 11 are fed from the first side 28 through the first recess 25 in the twisting device 23. Furthermore, each of the threads 32 is passed through one of the second recesses 26 from the first side 28.

[0068] On the second side 29 of the twisting device 23, the several individual threads 32 are passed around the carriers 11 and the optoelectronic components 12 and twisted together to form the sheath 14 of the optoelectronic fiber 10. During the twisting process, the threads 32 are unwound from the bobbins 30. The carriers 11 with the optoelectronic components 12 can, for example, be guided away from the twisting device 23 by means of a conveyor belt.

[0069] To twist the threads 32, the twisting device 23 is rotated about its axis of rotation in a direction indicated by the arrow 35 in FIG. 2. In the same way, the unwinding device 24 is rotated in a direction of arrow 36.

[0070] Furthermore, one or more metal wires can be inserted into the sheath 14 by unwinding them from bobbins 30 in the same way as the threads 32, passing them through corresponding second recesses 26 in the twisting device 23 and twisting them with the threads 32.

[0071] After twisting the threads 32, they can be cross-linked with each other. For this purpose, the threads 32 can be melted, for example, or the threads 32 can be made of a material that solidifies after forming the sheath 14, thereby forming a cross-linking of the threads 32.

[0072] FIGS. 3A to 3C show perspective views of a process for the manufacture of an optoelectronic fiber 10.

[0073] Carriers 13 are provided, which extend in the longitudinal direction represented by the arrow 13. The optoelectronic components 12 are arranged on the carriers 11. Subsequently, the carriers 11 and the components 12 arranged on them are wrapped helically along the longitudinal direction with a tape 40, thus producing the sheath 14. FIGS. 3A to 3C show different phases of the production of the sheath 14.

[0074] The tape loops created by wrapping tape 40 around the carrier 11 and the optoelectronic components 12 can be cross-linked with each other, for example by melting or solidifying.

[0075] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an example of a method for manufacturing an optoelectronic fiber 10.

[0076] In this example, an extrusion die 42 produces a plastic strand 43 from which the carriers 11 are produced by cutting the plastic strand 43 at suitable points. The optoelectronic components 12 are embedded or stamped into the plastic strand 43, for example by means of a hot embossing technique. Then the carriers 11 and the optoelectronic components 12 are surrounded by the sheath 14.

[0077] Furthermore, in FIG. 4 a band reflector 45 is linearly laminated onto the sheath 14.

[0078] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an example of a method for the manufacture of an optoelectronic fiber 10. The example shown in FIG. 5 is a further development of the example shown in FIG. 2, in which metal wires 46 are inserted into the sheath 14 of the optoelectronic fiber 10 in addition to the plastic threads 32.

[0079] Before the sheath 14 is manufactured, the metal wires 46 are wound at connection points 47 of the carrier 11, pressed there and then contacted by means of a suitable process, for example friction welding. In this case, the carrier 11 is a flexible printed circuit board through which the optoelectronic components 12 are electrically coupled to the metal wires 46.

[0080] The metal wires 46 make it possible to electrically connect the optoelectronic components 12 to each other and/or to a component outside the optoelectronic fiber 10.

[0081] Furthermore, the metal wires 46 stabilize the sheath 14 and mechanically support an extrusion process for the production of the carriers 11. The plastic strand 43 is pulled evenly from the extrusion die 42 and can break off without reinforcement.

[0082] FIGS. 6A and 6B show perspective views of examples of an optoelectronic fiber 10.

[0083] At the ends of the optoelectronic fibers 10, respective connecting contacts 50 are led out of the optoelectronic fibers 10, via which the optoelectronic fibers 10 can be contacted externally. The shown optoelectronic fibers 10 can be integrated into textiles or molded parts. Further applications are conceivable. For example, the optoelectronic fibers 10 can be installed in the floor of an airplane to mark an escape route for passengers.

[0084] FIGS. 7A and 7B show illustrations of an example of an optoelectronic fiber 10.

[0085] The sheath 14 consists of a hose or tube 52, shown in perspective in FIG. 7A, with two collinear electrical lines 53 embedded in the hose wall. A different number of electrical lines 53 is also conceivable. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 7B, the hose 52 contains the carriers 11 with the optoelectronic components 12.

[0086] The electrical lines 53 can be electrically coupled with the optoelectronic components 12 and/or external components. This makes it possible to interconnect the optoelectronic components 12 with each other or with a component outside the optoelectronic fiber 10.