LED lamp with sensing capabilities

• US 10,240,771 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2018
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ProPhotonix Limited
• Original Assignee: ProPhotonix Limited
• Inventors: Murphy, Karol, Panek, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Tracie Y
• Application Number:
  US15/934,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20180209633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/101 permanently, e.g. welding, gluing or riveting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/107 using hinge joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0407 Optical elements not provided otherwise, e.g. manifolds, windows, holograms, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0422 using light concentrators, collectors or condensers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4252 for testing LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

A novel LED lamp comprising: a lamp body; an LED mounted to the lamp body; an outer (exit) window; and a hinged clamp for releasably mounting the outer (exit) window to the lamp body such that light emitted from the LED passes through the outer (exit) window.

Claims

1. A novel LED lamp comprising:

a lamp body;

an LED mounted to the lamp body;

an outer (exit) window comprising an edge surface;

a photodetector;

a light pipe for transmitting light from the edge surface of the outer (exit) window to the photodetector; and

a hinged clamp for releasably mounting the outer (exit) window to the lamp body such that light emitted from the LED passes through the outer (exit) window;

wherein the lamp body comprises a heat sink and a reflector mounted to the heat sink, wherein the LED is mounted to the heat sink, and wherein the hinged clamp is mounted to the reflector.

2. A novel LED lamp according to claim 1 further comprising a fixed inner window mounted to the reflector between the LED and the outer (exit) window.

3. A novel LED lamp according to claim 1 wherein the LED is mounted to a substrate, and further wherein the substrate is mounted to the heat sink.

4. A novel LED lamp according to claim 3 further comprising an electronic driver circuit for driving the LED, and further wherein a flexible polyimide connector is used to connect the LED to the electronic driver circuit.

5. A novel method for producing light, the novel method comprising:

providing a novel LED lamp comprising;

a lamp body;

an LED mounted to the lamp body;

an outer (exit) window comprising an edge surface;

a photodetector;

a light pipe for transmitting light from the edge surface of the outer (exit) window to the photodetector; and

a hinged clamp for releasably mounting the outer (exit) window to the lamp body such that light emitted from the LED passes through the outer (exit) window;

wherein the lamp body comprises a heat sink and a reflector mounted to the heat sink, wherein the LED is mounted to the heat sink, and wherein the hinged clamp is mounted to the reflector; and

driving the LED so that it emits light.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising:

using the photodetector and the light pipe to detect the build-up of contaminants on the outer (exit) window.

7. A method according to claim 6 further comprising removing the outer (exit) window from the lamp body when a build-up of contaminants is detected.

8. A method according to claim 7 further comprising remounting an outer (exit) window to the lamp body.

9. A method according to claim 5 wherein the LED lamp further comprises a fixed inner window mounted to the reflector between the LED and the outer (exit) window.

10. A method according to claim 5 wherein the LED is mounted to a substrate, and further wherein the substrate is mounted to the heat sink.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the LED lamp further comprises an electronic driver circuit for driving the LED, and further wherein a flexible polyimide connector is used to connect the LED to the electronic driver circuit.