LIGHT SOURCE MODULE

• US 20120140484A1
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yahav, Giora, Felzenshtein, Shlomo, Larry, Eli, Mandelboum, David, Sander, Avner, Pellman, Asaf
• Granted Patent: US 10,234,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/311.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/484 Transmitters

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides apparatus for providing light pulses comprising a light source electrically connected to a low inductance configuration of electrodes for electrically connecting the light source to a power supply.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing light pulses, the apparatus comprising:

a configuration of electrodes having interleaved conducting elements; and

a light source mounted to an electrode of the configuration of electrodes and electrically connected by connections to the electrodes so that current that powers the light source flows into and out from the light source in respectively opposite directions along adjacent conducting elements.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electrodes and the electrical connections thereto present an inductance to a circuit that powers the light source that is less than or equal to 3 nH (nanohenrys).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the electrodes and the electrical connections thereto present an inductance to a circuit that powers the light source that is less than or equal to 2.8 nH.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the electrodes and the electrical connections thereto present an inductance to a circuit that powers the light source that is less than or equal to 2.0 nH.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electrical connections comprise a bondwire lead having a length less than or equal to about 1.5 mm that connects the light source to an electrode of the configuration of electrodes.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the bondwire lead length is less than or equal to about 0.5 mm.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the interleaved conducting elements have lengths along directions of their respective current flows that are less than or equal to 7.5 mm.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the lengths less than or equal to 3.5 mm.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conducting elements have widths larger than thickness.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a conducting element of the interleaved conducting elements has a ratio of width divided by thickness that is greater than or equal to about 1.25.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the ratio is greater than or equal to about 2.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a conducting element of the interleaved conducting elements has a width greater than or equal to about 0.5 mm.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the width is greater than or equal to about 0.8 mm.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a distance between adjacent conducting elements carrying current in opposite directions is less than or equal to about 0.5 mm.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 and comprising a casting in which the electrodes and light source are embedded.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the electrodes comprise conducting pins that extend from the casting.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the casting comprises at least one mating part configured to mate with a corresponding mating part of a component to which the casting is coupled.

18. An illumination system comprising:

a casting in accordance with claim 15;

a tube having a mating part coupled to a mating part of the at least one mating part of the casting;

a lens seated in the tube that receives light from the light source and collimates the received light; and

a diffuser seated in the tube that receives collimated light from the lens and diffuses the received light.