Solid-state light source

• US 20050276553A1
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Kazakevich, Yuri
• Granted Patent: US 7,345,312 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/69 Details of refractors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/30 of light guides doped with fluorescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0068 Medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/048 the lens being a simple lens adapted to cooperate with a point-like source for emitting mainly in one direction and having an axis coincident with the main light transmission direction, e.g. convergent or divergent lenses, plano-concave or plano-convex lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0066 specially adapted to cooperate with point like light sources; specially adapted to cooperate with light sources the shape of which is unspecified F21V7/16 - F21V7/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/20 Lighting for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 : the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/04 : formed by bundles of fibres G02B6/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 : Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2808 : using a mixing element which evenly distributes an input signal over a number of outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/40 : having fibre bundle mating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/403 : of the ferrule type, connecting a pair of ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 : for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 : Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4212 : the intermediate optical element being a coupling medium interposed therebetween, e.g. epoxy resin, refractive index matching material, index grease, matching liquid or gel
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 : the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4248 : Feed-through connections for the hermetical passage of fibres through a package wall see provisionally also G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 : comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 : coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 : Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details

Abstract

A solid-state light source includes a semiconductor light source for emitting light and an optical system having a fiber optic element. The fiber optic element has an input for receiving emitted light from the semiconductor light source. The fiber optic element also has an output for emitting light received from the solid-state light source. The semiconductor light source and the fiber optic element in aggregate form an illumination path.

Claims

1-57. -57. (canceled)

58. A solid-state light source for providing light, the solid-state light source comprising:

a plurality of semiconductor light sources for emitting light;

a mixer coupled to the semiconductor light sources, the mixer configured to receive emitted light from the semiconductor light sources and to mix multiple wavelengths of light together;

a fiber optic element coupled to the mixer, the fiber optic element comprising a plurality of fiber optic lines having inputs for receiving light from the mixer and outputs for the emitting light through a distal end of the fiber optic element, the semiconductor light sources, the mixer, and the fiber optic element in aggregate providing an illumination path.

59. The solid-state light source of claim 58 wherein the plurality of fiber optic lines are in the form of a bundle.

60. The solid-state light source of claim 58 wherein the semiconductor light sources include light emitting diodes (LEDs).

61. The solid-state light source of claim 58, further comprising light concentrators positioned at the semiconductor light sources, the light concentrator configured to reflect light from at least one surface of the semiconductor light sources.

62. The solid-state light source of claim 60 wherein the LEDs include a first LED configured to emit blue light, a second LED configured to emit red light, and a third LED configured to emit green light, an overlapping light from the first, second, and third LEDs producing white light.

63. The solid-state light source of claim 62 wherein the light from the mixer is white light that results from the mixer mixing the blue, red, and green light from the first, second, and third LEDs.

64. The solid state light source of claim 63 wherein in the semiconductor light sources include a fourth LED configured to emit yellow light.

65. The solid-state light source of claim 58, further comprising a phosphor layer located along the illumination path and configured to convert the light generated from the semiconductor light sources to white light.

66. The solid-state light source of claim 65 wherein the phosphor layer does not contact the semiconductor light sources.

67. The solid-state light source of claim 65 wherein the phosphor layer contacts the semiconductor light sources.

68. The solid-state light source of claim 66 wherein the phosphor layer is located at the distal end of the fiber optic element.

69. The solid-state light source of claim 66 wherein the phosphor layer is located between the mixer and the distal end of the fiber optic element.

70. The solid-state light source of claim 66 wherein the phosphor layer is located between the semiconductor light sources and the mixer.

71. The solid-state light source of claim 58 wherein the semiconductor light sources include laser diodes.

72. The solid-state light source of claim 58 wherein the semiconductor light sources include vertical cavity surface emission lasers.

73. The solid-state light source of claim 58 further comprising:

encasements having apertures positioned over the semiconductor light sources;

a semi-transparent medium located within the encasements, wherein the semi-transparent medium has a refractive index that is greater than a refractive index of air;

wherein the fiber lines are inserted through the apertures and the semi-transparent medium.

74. The solid-state light source of claim 73 wherein the semi-transparent medium is selected from a group consisting of:

silicone, epoxy, and gel.

75. The solid-state light source of claim 58 wherein the semiconductor light sources are configured to emit blue light.

76. The solid-state light source of claim 58 wherein the semiconductor light sources are configured to emit ultraviolet light.

91. The solid-state light source of claim 58 wherein the distal end of the fiber optic element is configured to be received by an endoscope.

77. A solid-state light source for providing light, the solid-state light source comprising:

a semiconductor light source for emitting light;

a fiber optic element coupled to the semiconductor light source, the fiber optic element comprising a fiber optic line having an input at a proximal end for receiving emitted light from the semiconductor light source and an output at a distal end for emitting light through a distal end of the fiber optic element, the semiconductor light source and the fiber optic element in aggregate providing an illumination path; and

a phosphor layer located along the illumination path, wherein the phosphor layer does not contact the semiconductor light source.

78. The solid-state light source of claim 77 further comprising a plurality of light sources and a plurality of fiber optic lines.

79. The solid-state light source of claim 78 wherein the plurality of fiber optic lines are in the form of a bundle.

80. The solid-state light source of claim 77 wherein the semiconductor light source includes a light emitting diode.

81. The solid-state light source of claim 77, further comprising a light concentrator having a proximal end positioned at the semiconductor light source, the light concentrator configured to reflect light from a surface of the semiconductor light source.

82. The solid-state light source of claim 81 wherein

the proximal end of the fiber optic line is coupled to a distal end of the light concentrator;

and

the phosphor layer is located distally from the distal end of the light concentrator.

83. The solid-state light source of claim 77 wherein the phosphor layer is configured to convert the emitted light from the semiconductor light source to white light.

84. The solid-state light source of claim 83 wherein the phosphor layer is located at the distal end of the fiber optic element.

85. The solid-state light source of claim 77 wherein the semiconductor light source includes a laser diode.

86. The solid-state light source of claim 77 wherein the semiconductor light source includes a vertical cavity surface emission laser.

87. The solid-state light source of claim 77 further comprising:

an encasement having an aperture positioned over the semiconductor light source;

a semi-transparent medium located within the encasement, the semi-transparent medium having a refractive index that is approximately greater than a refractive index of air;

wherein the fiber lines are inserted through the apertures and the semi-transparent medium.

88. The solid-state light source of claim 77 wherein the semi-transparent medium is selected from a group consisting of:

silicone, epoxy, and gel.

89. The solid-state light source of claim 77 wherein the semiconductor light source is configured to emit blue light.

90. The solid-state light source of claim 77 wherein the semiconductor light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light.

92. The solid-state light source of claim 77 wherein the distal end of the fiber optic element is configured to be received by an endoscope.

93. A solid-state light source for providing light, the solid-state light source comprising:

a semiconductor light source for emitting light;

a fiber optic element coupled to the semiconductor light source, the fiber optic element comprising a fiber optic line having an input at a proximal end for receiving emitted light from the semiconductor light source and an output at a distal end for emitting light through a distal end of the fiber optic element, the semiconductor light source and the fiber optic element in aggregate providing an illumination path; and

a semi-transparent medium coupled to the semiconductor light source, the semi-transparent medium having a refractive index that is greater than a refractive index of air.

94. The solid-state light source of claim 93 wherein the semi-transparent medium is disposed between the surface of the semiconductor light source and the proximal end of the fiber optic line.

95. The solid-state light source of claim 93 wherein the surface of the semiconductor light source is contacting the proximal end of the fiber optic line.

96. The solid-state light source of claim 93 wherein the semi-transparent medium is selected from a group consisting of:

silicone, epoxy, and gel.

97. A solid-state light source for providing light, the solid-state light source comprising:

a semiconductor light source for emitting light;

a light concentrator coupled to the semiconductor light source; and

a semi-transparent medium disposed between a surface of the semiconductor light source and a proximal surface of the light concentrator, the semi-transparent medium having a refractive index that is greater than a refractive index of air.