High intensity photocuring system
First Claim
1. A photocuring assembly, comprising:
- an LED array comprising a plurality of LED assemblies for generating collimated light;
at least one collection lens optically downstream from said LED array; and
a cooling plenum at least partially defined by said collection lens and having a cooling fluid flowing therein, wherein said LED array is disposed in said cooling plenum.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for curing photosensitive materials uses LEDs and an optical concentrator to generate high optical power intensities. An LED array, comprising a plurality of LED assemblies, generates collimated light. A collection lens functions as an optical concentrator and focuses the collimated light to a desired spot size at a desired location. The LED assemblies may be at least partially disposed in a cooling plenum, where the cooling plenum is at least partially defined by the collection lens. Each LED assembly within the LED array may be detachably coupled to a mounting surface, enabling easy replacement of individual LED assemblies within the LED array. The photocuring assembly may also include a redirecting assembly disposed between the collection lens and the desired location that may further concentrate the light at the desired location. The photocuring assembly may include more than one of the above features.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A photocuring assembly, comprising:
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an LED array comprising a plurality of LED assemblies for generating collimated light;
at least one collection lens optically downstream from said LED array; and
a cooling plenum at least partially defined by said collection lens and having a cooling fluid flowing therein, wherein said LED array is disposed in said cooling plenum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A photocuring assembly, comprising:
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an LED array comprising a plurality of LED assemblies, each of said LED assemblies comprising a base and an LED insert coupled to said base;
wherein, for each of said LED assemblies, at least the LED insert is detachably coupled to a mounting surface; and
at least one collection lens optically downstream from said LED array;
a light guide for collecting light generated by said LED array optically downstream from said collection lens;
a redirection assembly disposed between said collection lens and said light guide for redirecting at least a portion of said light to said light guide. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A photocuring assembly, comprising:
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an LED array comprising one or more LED assemblies for generating collimated light;
at least one collection lens optically downstream from said LED array to converge a majority of said light to within a predetermined area at a collection location distant from said collection lens; and
a redirecting assembly disposed between said collection lens and said collection location, said redirecting assembly redirecting at least a portion of said light other than said majority to fall within said area at said collection location. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A photocuring assembly, comprising:
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an LED array comprising a plurality of LED assemblies for generating collimated light, each of said LED assemblies comprising a base and an LED insert coupled to said base;
wherein, for each of said LED assemblies, at least the LED insert is detachably coupled to a mounting surface;
at least one collection lens optically downstream from said LED array to converge a majority of said light to within a predetermined area at a collection location distant from said collection lens; and
a cooling plenum at least partially defined by said collection lens and having a cooling fluid flowing therein, wherein said bases of said plurality of LED assemblies are disposed at least partially in said cooling plenum. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of operating a photocuring assembly, comprising:
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providing an LED array comprising a plurality of LED assemblies, each of said LED assemblies including an LED insert coupled to a heatsink;
generating collimated light with said LED array;
intensifying said light with at least one collection lens optically downstream from said LED array; and
routing a flow of cooling fluid via a cooling plenum at least partially defined by said collection lens, wherein said heatsinks are disposed at least partially in said cooling plenum. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of operating a photocuring assembly, comprising;
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providing an LED array comprising a plurality of LED assemblies, each of said LED assemblies comprising a base and an LED insert coupled to said base, including a first LED assembly comprising a first base and a first LED insert;
detachably coupling said first LED assembly to a mounting surface;
generating collimated light from said LED array using at least said first LED assembly;
thereafter, replacing at least one LED assembly in said LED array by decoupling at least said first LED insert from said mounting surface and detachably coupling a second LED insert to said mounting surface; and
generating collimated light from said LED array using at least said second LED assembly. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of curing a photosensitive material at a curing location, comprising:
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generating an intensified curing light, the steps comprising;
generating collimated light with an LED array comprising a plurality of LED assemblies;
generating said intensified curing light by converging a majority of said light to within a predetermined area at a predetermined location with at least one collection lens optically downstream from said LED array; and
routing a flow of cooling fluid through a cooling plenum at least partially defined by said at least one collection lens, wherein said LED array is at least partially disposed in said cooling plenum; and
delivering said intensified curing light to said curing location. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification