Long distance illuminator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An infrared illuminator comprising:
- a housing;
a substrate within the housing;
a plurality of infrared radiation emitting LEDs arranged in an array and mounted to the substrate;
wherein the substrate is apertured adjacent to each of the infrared radiation emitting LEDs in the array and the illuminator comprises means for causing a flow of coolant fluid through the apertures in the substrate.
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Abstract
An illuminator, which may be an infrared illuminator, has an array of LEDs. The LEDs are mounted to an apertured substrate. Air flow through apertures in the substrate cools the LEDs. A fan forces air through the apertures. A collimating plate reduces divergence of a light beam issuing from the LEDs. The illuminator is suitable for long range illumination, for example in night vision systems or surveillance systems. An infrared illuminator may be combined with an infrared camera to provide a night vision system.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An infrared illuminator comprising:
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a housing;
a substrate within the housing;
a plurality of infrared radiation emitting LEDs arranged in an array and mounted to the substrate;
wherein the substrate is apertured adjacent to each of the infrared radiation emitting LEDs in the array and the illuminator comprises means for causing a flow of coolant fluid through the apertures in the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An illuminator comprising:
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a housing;
a plurality of LEDs arranged in an array and mounted to a substrate located within the housing, the substrate dividing the housing into a front volume and a rear volume and the substrate apertured adjacent to each of the LEDs in the array;
means for causing a flow of coolant fluid through the apertures in the substrate;
a conduit in fluid communication between the front and rear volumes, the conduit allowing the coolant fluid which has flowed through the apertures in the substrate to circulate between the front and rear volumes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of cooling an LED-based illuminator, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of LED'"'"'s mounted to a substrate located in a housing, the substrate dividing the housing into a front volume and a rear volume and the substrate apertured adjacent to each of the LEDs in the array;
forcing a coolant fluid through the apertures in the substrate; and
circulating the coolant fluid which has flowed through the apertures in the substrate through a conduit that extends between the front and rear volumes. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification