Solid-state light sources for curing and surface modification
First Claim
1. A solid state light source comprising:
- light emitting arrays, each array comprising solid state light emitters which are mounted so that each emitter emits light away from one side of a surface and with at least one wavelength;
at least one optical mixer, each optical mixer being positioned symmetrically with respect to at least a pair of the arrays, reflecting part of the light emitted from one of the at least a pair of symmetrically positioned arrays and transmitting part of the light emitted from another one of the at least a pair of the symmetrically positioned arrays to mix the light from the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to produce mixed light which irradiates a surface with the mixed light; and
a housing comprising an interior curved reflective surface, the housing containing the light emitting arrays and the at least one optical mixer, and including an opening from which the mixed light is emitted and the interior curved reflective surface reflecting at least part of the light emitted from the one side of the arrays toward the surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The systems and methods described herein relate to solid-state light sources capable of generating radiation beams for, but not limited to, the treatment of surfaces, bulk materials, films, and coatings. The solid-state ultraviolet source optically combines the light output of at least two and preferably as many four independently controllable discrete solid-state light emitters to produce a light beam that has a controllable multi-wavelength spectrum over a wide range of wavelengths (i.e. deep UV to near-IR). Specific features of this light source permit changes in the spectral, spatial and temporal distribution of light for use in curing, surface modification and other applications.
53 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A solid state light source comprising:
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light emitting arrays, each array comprising solid state light emitters which are mounted so that each emitter emits light away from one side of a surface and with at least one wavelength;
at least one optical mixer, each optical mixer being positioned symmetrically with respect to at least a pair of the arrays, reflecting part of the light emitted from one of the at least a pair of symmetrically positioned arrays and transmitting part of the light emitted from another one of the at least a pair of the symmetrically positioned arrays to mix the light from the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to produce mixed light which irradiates a surface with the mixed light; and
a housing comprising an interior curved reflective surface, the housing containing the light emitting arrays and the at least one optical mixer, and including an opening from which the mixed light is emitted and the interior curved reflective surface reflecting at least part of the light emitted from the one side of the arrays toward the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of irradiating a target surface with a solid state light source including solid state light emitting arrays, each array comprising solid state light emitters which are mounted so that each light emitter emits light away from one side of a surface and with a plurality of wavelengths, at least one optical mixer, each optical mixer being positioned symmetrically with respect to at least a pair of the arrays, reflecting part of the light emitted from at one of the at least a pair of symmetrically positioned arrays and transmitting part of the light emitted from another one of the pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to mix the light from the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to produce mixed light which irradiates a target surface with the mixed light, a light housing comprising an interior curved reflective surface, the housing containing the light emitting arrays and the at least one optical mixer, a controller coupled to the light emitting arrays for controlling a power level of light emitted from the arrays and an opening from which the mixed light is emitted and the interior curved reflective surface reflecting at least some of the light emitted from the one side of the arrays to the target surface comprising:
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positioning the target surface to be irradiated with the mixed light emitted from the opening; and
controlling the power level of light emitted from the arrays to provide a controlled power level of mixed light to irradiate the target surface. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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Specification