Apparatus and method providing substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation

• US 6,649,921 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight Fusion UV Inc. (Heraeus Holding GMBH)
• Original Assignee: Fusion UV Systems, Inc. (Heraeus Holding GMBH)
• Inventors: Cekic, Miodrag, Geller, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EL SHAMMAA, MARY A
• Application Number:
  US10/222,995
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 250/504.R, 250/491.1, 250/492.2, 250/492.3, 250/493.1, 250/496.1, 250/498.1, 250/519.1
• US Class Current: 250/504.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0665 Reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8806 Specially adapted optical and illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/04 with beam-forming means

Abstract

Apparatus and method providing substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation of a planar target surface. An irradiation source is within an elliptical reflecting trough, on the major axis of the trough, and spaced from the focal axes of the trough. Edges of the trough define a first plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the trough. Reflectors extend substantially equal distances from the longitudinal edges and the ends of the trough to define a target surface plane substantially parallel with the first plane. A translucent reflector is a positioned on the major axis of the trough, outside the trough. The translucent reflector has a first planar portion lying in a plane substantially parallel with the target surface plane, and second and third planar portions extending from the edges of the first planar portion and angled toward the target surface plane.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation of a relatively large planar target surface, said apparatus comprising:

an elliptical reflecting trough having a major axis, a minor axis, a first focal axis within said trough and a second focal axis outside said trough, said trough terminating in an opening with longitudinal edges defining a first plane substantially perpendicular to the major axis of said trough, the first and second longitudinal edges extending between first and second ends of said trough;

a first reflector extending from the first longitudinal edge of said trough;

a second reflector extending from the second longitudinal edge of said trough;

a third reflector extending from the first end of said trough;

a fourth reflector extending from the second end of said trough;

an irradiation source for producing irradiation to irradiate the target surface, said irradiation source being within said trough, on the major axis of said trough, spaced from the first focal axis of said trough and having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel with the trough first focal axis; and

a translucent reflector positioned on the major axis of said trough and outside said trough, said translucent reflector having a first planar portion lying in a plane substantially parallel with the target surface plane and having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with the irradiation source longitudinal axis, wherein,

said first, second, third, and fourth reflectors extend substantially equal distances from said trough to reflector outer edges to define a plane for the target surface substantially parallel with the first plane.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said first, second, third, and fourth reflectors comprises a dichroic mirror.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first, second, third, and fourth reflectors comprises a cold mirror.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said translucent reflector first planar portion has first and second longitudinal edges; and

said translucent reflector further includes a second planar portion extending from said first planar portion first longitudinal edge and angled toward the target surface plane at an angle α

₁>

0°

with respect to the plane of said first planar portion, and a third planar portion extending from said first planar portion second longitudinal edge and angled toward the target surface plane at an angle α

₂>

0°

with respect to the plane of said first planar portion.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising mounts pivotally mounting said translucent reflector second and third planar portions to the first and second longitudinal edges of said first planar portion, respectively, permitting adjustment of the angles α

₁ and α

₂.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein α

₁=α

₂.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said first reflector includes a first portion extending from the first longitudinal edge of said trough and angled toward the target surface plane at an angle β

₁>

0°

with respect to the first plane, and a second portion extending from the first reflector first portion and angled toward the target surface at an angle γ

₁>

90°

with respect to the first plane; and

said second reflector includes a first portion extending from the second longitudinal edge of said trough and angled toward the target surface plane at an angle β

₂>

0°

with respect to the first plane, and a second portion extending from the second reflector first portion and angled toward the target surface at an angle γ

₂>

90°

with respect to the first plane.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said second portion of said first reflector has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv1, said second portion of said second reflector has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv2, said third reflector has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv3, said fourth reflector has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv4, said first portion of said first reflector has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv5, said first portion of said second reflector has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv6, said translucent reflector first planar portion has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv7, said translucent reflector second planar portion has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv8, and said translucent reflector third planar portion has a ultraviolet light reflectance ρ

uv9; and

ρ

uv1=ρ

uv2=ρ

uv3=ρ

uv4>

ρ

uv5=ρ

uv6>

ρ

uv7>

ρ

uv8=ρ

uv9.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first reflector includes a first portion extending from the first longitudinal edge of said elliptical trough and angled toward the target surface plane at an angle β

₁>

0°

with respect to the first plane, and a second portion extending from the first reflector first portion and angled toward the target surface at an angle γ

₁>

90°

with respect to the first plane; and

said second reflector includes a first portion extending from the second longitudinal edge of said trough and angled toward the target surface plane at an angle β

₂>

0°

with respect to the first plane, and a second portion extending from the second reflector first portion and angled toward the target surface at an angle γ

₂>

90°

with respect to the first plane.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising mounts pivotally mounting said first reflector first portion and said second reflector first portion to the first and second longitudinal edges of said trough, respectively, permitting adjustment of the angles β

₁ and β

₂.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising further mounts pivotally mounting said first reflector second portion and said second reflector second portion to said first reflector first portion and said second reflector first portion, respectively, permitting adjustment of the angles γ

₁ and γ

₂.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising mounts pivotally mounting said first reflector second portion and said second reflector second portion to said first reflector first portion and said second reflector first portion, respectively, permitting adjustment of the angular positions of angles γ

₁ and γ

₂.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein β

₁=β

₂.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein γ

₁=γ

₂.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein γ

₁=γ

₂.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third reflector extends from said trough first end at an angle δ

₁>

90°

, and said fourth reflector extends from said trough second end at an angle δ

₂>

90°

.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising mounts pivotally mounting said third and fourth reflectors to said trough first and second ends, respectively, permitting adjustment of the angle δ

₁ and δ

₂.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein angle δ

₁=δ

₂.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said irradiation source is a discharge bulb.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said bulb is a tubular bulb.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said irradiation source is a light source.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein said light source is a source of ultraviolet light.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said source of ultraviolet light is a microwave electrodeless discharge bulb.

24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein said source of ultraviolet light is an arc discharge bulb.

25. Apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein said source of ultraviolet light is a fluorescent discharge bulb.

26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said translucent reflector is on the focal axis of said trough.

27. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mount adjustably mounting said irradiation source on the major axis of said trough, permitting adjustment of the position of said irradiation source on the major axis of said trough.

28. A method of providing a substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation distribution on a planar target surface, said method comprising:

providing the structure of claim 5;

adjusting the angular positions of said translucent reflector second and third planar portions relative to said first planar portion; and

activating said irradiation source to provide a substantially two-dimensionally uniform distribution of irradiation from said irradiation source onto the planar target surface.

29. A method of providing a substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation distribution on a planar target surface, said method comprising:

providing the structure of claim 10;

adjusting the angular positions of said first reflector first portion and said second reflector first portion relative to said trough; and

activating said irradiation source to provide a substantially two-dimensionally uniform distribution of irradiation from said irradiation source onto the planar target surface.

30. A method of providing a substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation distribution on a planar target surface, said method comprising:

providing the structure of claim 11;

adjusting the angular positions of said first reflector first portion and said second reflector first portion relative to said trough;

adjusting the angular positions of said first reflector second portion and said second reflector second portion relative to said first reflector first portion and said second reflector first portion, respectively; and

activating said irradiation source to provide a substantially two-dimensionally uniform distribution of irradiation from said irradiation source onto the planar target surface.

31. A method of providing a substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation distribution on a planar target surface, said method comprising:

providing the structure of claim 12;

adjusting the angular positions of said first reflector second portion and said second reflector second portion relative to said first reflector first portion and said second reflector first portion, respectively; and

activating said irradiation source to provide a substantially two-dimensionally uniform distribution of irradiation from said irradiation source onto the planar target surface.

32. A method of providing a substantially two-dimensionally uniform irradiation distribution on a planar target surface, said method comprising:

providing the apparatus of claim 27;

adjusting the position of said irradiation source on the major axis of said trough; and

activating said irradiation source to provide a two-dimensionally substantially uniform distribution of irradiation from said irradiation source onto the planar target surface.