Abstract: An illumination device includes a flexible and substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length with a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface and an elongated light source extending along and positioned adjacent the light-receiving surface of the rod-like member, such that light entering the rod-like member from the elongated light source and through the light-receiving surface is preferentially scattered, thus causing a light intensity pattern that appears substantially uniform along the light-emitting surface of the rod-like member.

Abstract: A bulb adapted to fit over and around a light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a predetermined radiation pattern defines an inner cavity for housing the light-emitting diode with a cross-sectional geometry based on the predetermined radiation pattern of the light-emitting diode. The bulb is composed of a light-transmitting material and a light color-converting material, with the light color-converting material converting the light of the first hue into light of a desired hue, which is then viewed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.

Abstract: A lighting system include a point light source, a tubular color adjustment means, and a light-collecting and mixing element. The color adjustment means has a color-converting tubular structure and an adjusting rod. The tubular structure is made of a light-transmitting medium doped with a wavelength-converting material. The adjusting rod is operably connected to and for adjusting the tubular structure. In operation, the point light source emits light of a first wavelength or hue. The color adjustment means adjustably intersects, through the use of the adjusting rod, the light of the first hue and converts at least a portion of the light of a first hue into a light of another hue. The light-collecting and mixing element collects and mixes the light of a first hue and the light of another hue, and directs the mixed light out the open end.

Abstract: A bulb is adapted to fit over a light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue. The bulb is composed of a light-transmitting material and defines an inner cavity. The bulb includes a color-converting insert that is positioned in the inner cavity. The color-converting insert is also composed of a light-transmitting material and includes a light color-converting material. The light-emitting diode emits light of the first hue into the color-converting insert, which converts the light of the first hue into light of a desired hue, which is then emitted into the bulb and ultimately observed over a light-emitting surface of the bulb.

Abstract: A lighting system include a point light source, a tubular color adjustment means, and a light-collecting and mixing element. The color adjustment means has a color-converting tubular structure and an adjusting rod. The tubular structure is made of a light-transmitting medium doped with a wavelength-converting material. The adjusting rod is operably connected to and for adjusting the tubular structure. In operation, the point light source emits light of a first wavelength or hue. The color adjustment means adjustably intersects, through the use of the adjusting rod, the light of the first hue and converts at least a portion of the light of a first hue into a light of another hue. The light-collecting and mixing element collects and mixes the light of a first hue and the light of another hue, and directs the mixed light out the open end.

Abstract: A bulb is adapted to fit over and around a light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue in a generally Lambertian radiation pattern. The bulb has a generally spherical shape and a substantially circular external cross-sectional geometry, and further defines an inner cavity with a substantially circular cross-sectional geometry for housing the light-emitting diode. The bulb is composed of a light-transmitting material and a light color-converting material, with the light color-converting material converting the light of the first hue into a light of a desired hue, which is then viewed along an external surface of said bulb.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a housing, a light-transmitting top member positioned across an open top of the housing, a light source positioned in the housing, a helical fiber biased between the light source and the top member, and an adjustment means for adjusting the compression of the helical fiber. The helical fiber is light-transmitting and is doped with a first wavelength-converting material. A portion of the light emitted by the light source passes through open space between turns of the helical fiber, and a portion of the light emitted by the light source is received by the helical fiber and converted into a light of a predetermined color. Adjusting the compression of the helical fiber changes the relative portions of the light that passes through the open space between the turns of the helical fiber and the light received by the helical fiber.

Abstract: A bulb is adapted to fit over a light-emitting diode emitting a light of a first hue. The bulb has a generally spherical shape and defines an external surface, and the bulb is composed of an acrylic resin and a light color-converting material. The light color-converting material converts the light of the first hue into light of a desired hue, which is then observed over the external surface of said bulb.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a helical light-transmitting fiber and a light source. The helical light-transmitting fiber is doped with a first wavelength converting material and defines a helical axis. The light source is aligned axially with the helical fiber such that a portion of any light emitted by the light source will pass through the open space between the turns of the first helical fiber and a portion of any light emitted by the light source will be received by the helical fiber and converted to light of a predetermined color. Adjustment of the compression of the helical fiber will adjust the mixture of light emitted by the system. The helical fiber may bias an illuminated button bulb upward in a housing, such that depressing the button bulb changes the color of the light that illuminates the button bulb.

Abstract: An illumination device simulates neon lighting using a light source for emitting light of a predetermined first hue and a light-transmitting medium having a predetermined density of phosphorescent dye positioned adjacent to the light source. The phosphorescent dye will absorb light emitted by the light source and emit light of a second hue. An observer of the device perceives light that is of a hue that is different from the predetermined first hue. A means for varying the intensity of the light emitted by the light source creates color changing effects in the illumination device. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a suitable light source. A waveguide having both optical waveguide and light scattering properties is used to diffuse the combined light and simulate the uniform appearance of a neon tube. Alternatively, the waveguide itself can be doped with phosphorescent dye to emit light having the perceived hue.

Abstract: An illumination device has a light source, a waveguide, and a light-transmitting medium. The light source emits light of a first color. The waveguide has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties. The light-transmitting medium is composed of a matrix of substantially translucent material doped with a pigment, and is positioned between the light source and the waveguide such that a portion of the light emitted by the light source passes around the light-transmitting medium and reaches the waveguide directly, and a portion of the emitted light is received by the light-transmitting medium. The pigment changes a portion of the received light to a light of a second color. The waveguide receives and mixes the light of the first color and the light of the second color, and emits light of a combined color.

Abstract: A lighting system includes a helical light-transmitting fiber and an LED. The helical light-transmitting fiber is doped with a first wavelength converting material and defines a helical axis. The LED has a light-emitting portion for emitting light of a first color. The LED is aligned axially with the first helical fiber such that a portion of any light emitted by the LED will pass through the open space between the turns of the first helical fiber and a portion of any light emitted by the LED will be received by the first helical fiber and converted to light of a second color. Adjustment of the compression of the helical fiber will adjust the mixture of colors in the light emitted by the system. Further, the relatively small cross-sectional area of the fiber serves to lessen any dye migration in the fiber.

Abstract: An illumination device has a light-transmitting member formed in the shape of a toroid having a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, the light-transmitting member defining a central axis, a light source located along the light-transmitting member central axis, and a light-directing housing for guiding light from the light source into the light-receiving surface of the light-transmitting member. The light-transmitting member may have optical waveguide and light-scattering characteristics, whereby the light-transmitting member emits light having a substantially uniform intensity along the light-emitting surface. The light-directing housing has a top reflector member and a bottom reflector member positioned on opposing side of the light source and cooperating with the light-transmitting member such that light is emitted only through the light-transmitting member.

Abstract: An illumination device for simulating neon or similar lighting incorporates removable and interchangeable color conversion modules, thus allowing for emission of light in colors that cannot ordinarily be achieved by use of light-emitting diodes alone without significant increase in cost or complexity of the illumination device.

Abstract: An illumination device for simulating neon or similar lighting uses fluorescent dyes, thus allowing for emission of light in colors that cannot ordinarily be achieved by use of LEDs alone. Such an illumination device is generally comprised of an elongated diffusing member enclosing a string of continuously mounted LEDs. An intermediate light-transmitting medium including a predetermined combination of one or more fluorescent dyes is interposed between the light source and the diffusing member, such that light from the LEDs is partially absorbed by each of the fluorescent dyes, and a lower-energy light is then emitted from each of the fluorescent dyes and into the light-receiving surface of the diffusing member, producing a substantially uniform light along the light-emitting surface of the diffusing member with perceived a color different than that of the LEDs.

Abstract: An illumination device for simulating neon lighting comprises a rod-like member having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface, an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of the rod-like member at a fixed distance from the light emitting surface, and a housing for said elongated light source. The housing includes opposing and substantially parallel side walls with internally light reflecting surfaces, such that the housing serves to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into the rod-like member, with such light then passing through and being scattered by the rod-like member so as to exit the curved light emitting surface in a substantially uniform light intensity pattern.

Abstract: An illumination device for simulating neon or similar lighting is generally comprised of a rod-like member, a housing, a light source, and an intermediate light-transmitting medium extending along and positioned adjacent the light source with a light-receiving surface for receiving light emitted from said light source and a light-emitting surface for emitting light into the rod-like member. This intermediate light-transmitting medium is preferably composed of a matrix of a substantially translucent acrylic, polyurethane, or similar material tinted with a predetermined combination of one or more fluorescent and/or phosphorescent dyes. The intermediate light-transmitting medium is subdivided into independent sections, each of which is provided with differing combinations of fluorescent dye, phosphorescent dye, and/or no dye at all.

Abstract: An illumination device for use in daylight conditions includes a light-diffusing member provided with one or more dyes and a light source extending along and positioned adjacent a light-receiving surface of the light-diffusing member, with the light source emitting light that is substantially unabsorbed by the dyes as it passes through the light-diffusing member. Accordingly, in daylight conditions, the dyes are activated by sunlight to emit light such that light perceived along a light-emitting surface of the light-diffusing member is a combination of light from said light source and light from the dyes, thus increasing the output of the illumination device in daylight conditions.

Abstract: An illumination device generally comprises a housing, a light source, and a scattering member. The housing includes a base portion and a side wall, which collectively defines an interior cavity with an open end having a predetermined shape. A light source is positioned within the interior cavity, along with an electric connecting member adapted to connect the light source to a remote power source. A scattering member having substantially the same predetermined shape as the open end of the housing is positioned adjacent the light source at the open end of the interior cavity. The scattering member has a light-emitting surface and is composed of a material which causes light entering the scattering member to be directed through a portion of thereof before being scattered and emitted, such that a substantially uniform light pattern is perceived along the light-emitting surface of the scattering member in the predetermined shape.

Abstract: An illumination device simulates neon lighting and allows for emission of light in colors that cannot ordinarily be achieved by use of LEDs alone through the incorporation of a light color conversion system into the illumination device. This light color conversion system comprises an intermediate light-transmitting medium tinted with a predetermined combination of one or more fluorescent dyes. Light emitted from the light source of the illumination device is directed into the intermediate light-transmitting medium and interacts with the fluorescent dyes contained therein. This light is partially absorbed by each of the fluorescent dyes of the intermediate light-transmitting medium, and a lower-energy light is then emitted from each of the fluorescent dyes and into the light-receiving surface of the waveguide. Thus, selection of appropriate combinations of dyes results in various colors being emitted from the illumination device.