SOLID STATE LIGHT SOURCE FOR PHOTOCURING

• US 20130335992A1
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumencor, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lumencor, Inc.
• Inventors: Jaffe, Claudia B., Jaffe, Steven M., Tylinski, George S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/552
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/003 Apparatus for curing resins by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/00 Screens not covered by groups F21V1/00, F21V3/00, F21V7/00 or F21V9/00 characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/502
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/28 by radiation, e.g. from the sun
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/10 Beam splitting or combining systems polarising systems G02B27/28; mixing and splitting light signals using optical waveguides G02B6/28; beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, by dividing or superposing multiple light beams G02B27/0905
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/141 using dichroic mirrors
• 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 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4269 with heat sinks or radiation fins
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

A compact passively-cooled solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for photocuring applications. The solid state illumination system utilizes LED modules to generate high intensity light output suitable for photocuring. The light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 530 nm and is suitable for photocuring using a wide range of photoinitiators. A touchscreen interface allows programming of spectral output, intensity and duration. Output can be initiated using the touchscreen interface and/or a foot pedal.

Claims

1. A photocuring system comprising:

a housing enclosing a space;

a metal platform having a first substantially planar surface and a second surface;

the metal platform vertically dividing the enclosed space into a first volume defined by the first substantially planar surface and the housing, and a second volume defined by the second surface and the housing;

a plurality of light sources positioned within said first volume, each light source having a solid state light source and a metal base and emitting a light beam;

each metal base of each of the plurality of light sources mounted to said substantially planar surface of said platform;

each metal base providing a heat conducting path between a solid state light source and the metal platform whereby heat generated by the solid state light source is conducted via the base to the platform;

wherein the housing is vented to allow air flow through the second volume to provide passive convective cooling of the platform and wherein the housing is substantially seals the first volume to prevent contamination.

2. The photocuring system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of dichroic elements positioned in said first volume and mounted to said substantially planar surface of said platform wherein the plurality of dichroic elements combine the light beams from the plurality of light sources into a combined beam.

3. The photocuring system of claim 2, further comprising an output optical stage positioned in said first volume and mounted to said substantially planar surface of said platform and adapted to receive the combined beam and focus the combined beam into an entrance aperture of a light guide wherein the output optical stage includes a mechanical flap for preventing light output in the absence of a light guide.

4. The photocuring system of claim 3, in combination with a light guide coupled to the output optical stage through an aperture in said housing, the light guide adapted to transmit the combined beam from the illumination source.

5. The photocuring system of claim 1, further comprising a control board mounted within the second volume of the housing, the control board adapted to provide current to said plurality of light sources.

6. The photocuring system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of dichroic elements positioned in said first volume and mounted to said substantially planar surface of said platform wherein the plurality of dichroic elements combine the light beams from the plurality of light sources into a combined beam of light which has and intensity of at least 10 W/cm² when used with a 3 mm diameter light guide.

7. The photocuring system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of dichroic elements positioned in said first volume and mounted to said substantially planar surface of said platform wherein the plurality of dichroic elements combine the light beams from the plurality of light sources into a combined beam of light which is substantially continuous between 380 nm and 530 nm.

8. A photocuring system comprising:

a plurality of LED modules emitting light of different colors;

a plurality of dichroic elements which combine the light of different colors into an output beam;

output optics adapted to focus the output beam into a light guide;

wherein the photocuring system comprises a passive convective cooling system; and

wherein the output beam is substantially continuous between 380 nm and 530 nm and has an intensity of at least 10 W/cm² when used with a 3 mm diameter light guide.

9. The photocuring system of claim 8, in combination with a light guide coupled to said output optics.

10. The photocuring system of claim 8, in combination with a foot pedal to control light output.

11. The photocuring system of claim 10, further comprising a touchscreen control device adapted to set intensity, a countdown timer and even program custom curing cycles.

12. The photocuring system of claim 10, wherein the output optics includes a mechanical flap for obstructing the output beam in the absence of a light guide.

13. The photocuring system of claim 10, wherein the output optics includes an electronic sensor and a mechanical flap for obstructing the output beam and turning of the LED modules in the absence of a light guide.