Diffusing Collection Lens for Direct Coupled High Power Microscopy Illumination Systems

• US 20150062698A1
• Filed: 09/05/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Excelitas Canada, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Excelitas Canada Incorporated
• Inventors: Wang, Yong, Constantinou, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,250,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/385
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/08 Condensers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/16 adapted for ultraviolet illumination ; Fluorescence microscopes G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/106 for splitting or combining a plurality of identical beams or images, e.g. image replication
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A high power microscopy illumination system is disclosed, including a solid state illumination source. A diffusing collection lens having a diffusing surface is configured to collect and diffuse light emission from the solid state illumination source. An emitting surface is disposed substantially opposite the diffusing surface. An optical coupling element couples the light emission from the diffusing collection lens emitting surface along an optical axis to an optical output. The diffusing collection lens provides improved uniformity of illumination with direct coupling, without significant power loss.

Claims

1. A high power illumination system for a microscopy device comprising:

a solid state illumination source;

a diffusing collection lens comprising a diffusing surface configured to collect and diffuse light emission from the solid state illumination source, and an emitting surface disposed substantially opposite the diffusing surface; and

an optical coupling element is configured to couple the light emission from the diffusing collection lens emitting surface along an optical axis to an optical output.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising securing means for direct coupling the illumination system to an optical input of the microscopy device.

3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the collection lens emitting surface is selected from the group consisting of a half-ball lens, a plano-convex lens, a meniscus lens, and an aspheric lens, and a double convex lens.

4. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the collection lens emitting surface and collection lens diffusing surface comprise a double convex lens.

5. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the collection lens emitting surface further comprises a substantially smooth surface.

6. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the collection lens diffusing surface further comprises a planar diffusing surface.

7. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the solid state illumination source comprises a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources.

8. The illumination system of claim 7, further comprising a dichroic beam-splitter/combiner configured to direct emission from each of the plurality of LED light sources along a common optical axis to an optical input of the microscopy device.

9. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein at least one LED light source of the plurality of light sources comprises an array of LEDs.

10. The illumination system of claim 8, wherein the solid state illumination source comprises an array of LEDs.

11. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising collimating optics configured to receive light from the diffusing collection lens.

12. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the collimating optics comprise non-adjustable collimating optics.

13. The illumination system of claim 11, wherein the collimating optics further comprise at least one light diffusing surface.

14. A light diffusing collection lens for use in a high power illumination microscopy system comprising:

a light collecting surface configured to collect and diffuse light received from an illumination source; and

a light emitting refractive surface configured to emit light toward an optical input of the microscopy system,

wherein the light emitting refractive surface is selected from the group consisting of a half-ball lens, a plano-convex lens, a meniscus lens, an aspheric lens, and a double convex lens.

15. The lens of claim 14, wherein the collecting surface further comprises a light diffusing pattern.

16. The lens of claim 15, wherein the light diffusing pattern is formed by sandblasting the light collecting surface.

17. The lens of claim 15, wherein the light diffusing pattern is formed by lapping the light collecting surface.

18. The lens of claim 14, wherein the light emitting refractive surface is substantially smooth.

19. A method for manufacturing a high power illumination system for a microscopy device comprising the steps of:

forming a light collecting surface of a diffusing collection lens;

forming a light emitting refractive surface of the diffusing collection lens;

forming a diffusing surface upon the collecting surface of the diffusing lens; and

positioning the diffusing collection lens between a solid state illumination source and an optical coupling element configured to couple the light emission from the diffusing collection lens emitting surface along an optical axis to an optical output.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

orienting the diffusing collection lens collecting surface toward the solid state illumination source; and

orienting the diffusing collection lens emitting surface toward the optical output.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of forming a housing configured to enclose the solid state illumination source, the diffusing collection lens, and the optical output.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the light diffusing surface is formed by sandblasting the light collecting surface.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the light diffusing surface is formed by lapping the light collecting surface.