SOLID STATE CONTINUOUS WHITE LIGHT SOURCE

• US 20130188331A1
• Filed: 01/15/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumencor, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lumencor, Inc.
• Inventors: Jaffe, Steven M., Jaffe, Claudia B., Tylinski, George S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,642,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0646 with illumination filters
• 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: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/083 for portable lighting devices
• 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: G02B 21/16 adapted for ultraviolet illumination ; Fluorescence microscopes G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/141 using dichroic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0003 the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources

Abstract

A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output.

Claims

1. An illumination system, comprising:

a first plurality of LED light sources, wherein each of the plurality of LED light sources emits light of a different color than each other of the first plurality of LED light sources;

a second plurality of LED light sources, wherein the second LED light sources emit light of a first color;

a luminescent rod positioned to receive the light of the first color, wherein the light of the first color is absorbed by the luminescent rod which then emits a light of a second color different than the first color; and

associated optics, wherein the associated optics combine the light of different colors emitted by the first plurality of LED light sources and the light of a second color emitted by the luminescent rod to create white light and emit said white light;

wherein the white light is substantially continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said white light has a spectral power which substantially equals or exceeds a spectral power of 120 W metal halide lamp over substantially all of a power of the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm.

3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said white light has a spectral power which substantially equals or exceeds a spectral power of a 150 W Xenon lamp over substantially all of a power of the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm.

4. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said white light has a spectral power greater than 1 mW/nm over substantially all of a power of the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm.

5. The illumination system of claim 4, wherein said white light has a spectral power greater than 3 mW/nm over the visible spectrum from 500 nm-600 nm.

6. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a filter system including a light filter positioned in the path of the white light to modulate the spectral content of the white light.

7. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of LED light sources and the second plurality of LED light sources are ganged such that all of the first plurality of LED light sources and the second plurality of LED light sources are turned on and off together.

8. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of LED light sources and the second plurality of LED light sources are ganged such that the first plurality of LED light sources and the second plurality of LED light sources cannot be independently controlled.

9. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of LED light sources emit blue light and the luminescent rod emits green and yellow light.

10. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a filter system and a liquid light guide for providing the white light to a microscope system.

21. The illumination system of claim 1 further comprising:

a downstream filter system through which said white light is passed; and

said downstream filter system capable of using one of a plurality of filters to modulate the white light.

22. The illumination system of claim 1 further comprising a liquid light guide through said white light is passed;

and

a downstream filter system through which the light exiting from the liquid light guide is passed.

11. An illumination system, comprising:

a first plurality of LED light sources, wherein each of the plurality of LED light sources emits light of a different color than each other of the first plurality of LED light sources;

a second plurality of LED light sources, wherein the second LED light sources emit light of a first color;

a luminescent rod positioned to receive the light of the first color, wherein the light of the first color is absorbed by the luminescent rod which then emits a light of a second color different than the first color; and

an optical system which combines the light of different colors emitted by the first plurality of LED light sources and the light of a second color emitted by the luminescent rod to create white light and direct said white light into a liquid light guide;

wherein the white light is substantially continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and has as a spectral power greater than 1 mW/nm over substantially all of the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm.

12. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein said white light has a spectral power which substantially equals or exceeds a spectral power of 120 W metal halide lamp over substantially all of a power of the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm.

13. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein said white light has a spectral power which substantially equals or exceeds a spectral power of a 150 W Xenon lamp over substantially all of a power of the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm.

14. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein said white light has a spectral power greater than 3 mW/nm over the visible spectrum from 500 nm-600 nm.

15. The illumination system of claim 11, further comprising a filter system including a light filter positioned in the path of the white light to modulate the spectral content of the white light.

16. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of LED light sources and the second plurality of LED light sources are ganged such that all of the first plurality of LED light sources and the second plurality of LED light sources are turned on and off together.

17. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of LED light sources and the second plurality of LED light sources are ganged such that the first plurality of LED light sources and the second plurality of LED light sources cannot be independently controlled.

18. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the second plurality of LED light sources emit blue light and the luminescent rod emits green and yellow light.

19. The illumination system of claim 11, further comprising a filter system and a liquid light guide for providing the white light to a microscope system.

20. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the luminescent rod emits green and yellow light between 500 nm and 600 nm and wherein said white light has a spectral power greater than 3 mW/nm between 500 nm-600 nm.

23. The illumination system of claim 11 further comprising a filter system which is associated with said liquid light guide so that the light exiting from the liquid light guide is passed through said filter system.