| 摘要 |
A flexible shape-retaining light guide device for illuminating fixed objects from a remote fixed light source. The light guide combines a bundle of flexible optical fibers with a shape-retention member. The fiber bundle and shape-retention member are surrounded by a flexible jacket of heat shrink material. In one embodiment, the fibers are connected to the shape-retention member only at the output end of the light guide by an annular sleeve. The input end of the light guide is unfinished to accommodate movement of the guide's components relative to one another as the guide is positioned. Once positioned the input end of the light guide is cut to length and secured near the light source. In an alternate embodiment, a removable optically transparent end cap frictionally engages the outer surface of the jacket at each end of the device to retain the fibers and keep out contaminants. Once positioned, the device is cut to length and the new end is resealed with the removed end cap. The light guide can accommodate a variety of separation distances, relative positions and intervening environments between light source and illuminated object and is able to assume and retain a variety of convoluted shapes.
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