Curing light

• US 7,077,648 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CAO Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CAO Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Cao, Densen
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph A.
• Application Number:
  US10/072,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20020172914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 433/215, 606/1, 606/13, 606/16, 607/88, 362/119, 362/800, 362/804
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/004 Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0096 Portable laser equipment, e.g. hand-held laser apparatus surgical laser instruments A61B18/20, Dental Lasers A61C1/0046, Hand-held laser dental apparatus for curing resins A61C19/004
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0608 in the same heat affected zone [HAZ] B23K26/0613, B23K26/0619 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/064 by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0643 comprising mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0648 comprising lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/0665 by beam condensation on the workpiece, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/703 Cooling arrangements by using a fluid stream B23K26/14

Abstract

A curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials is disclosed. Various configurations of light emitting semiconductor chips and heat sinks are disclosed, as well as various structures and methods for driving, controlling and using them.

Claims

1. A curing light comprising:

a wand for grasping by a human hand in order to manipulate the curing light, said wand having a longitudinal axis and a length L_W along its longitudinal axis,

controls on said wand for controlling transmission of light from the curing light,

an elongate heat sink located at least partially within said wand, said elongate heat sink having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said elongate heat sink having a length L_H,

a mounting platform located at said elongate heat sink distal end,

a primary heat sink mounted to said mounting platform, said primary heat sink being smaller in overall volume than said elongate heat sink,

a well located on said primary heat sink, and

a light emitting semiconductor device mounted in said well of said primary heat sink;

wherein L_H is a substantial percentage of L_W and

wherein light emitted directly forward from said light emitting semiconductor device travels at an angular orientation with said wand longitudinal axis in the range of 30 to 150 degrees, and thence exits the curing light without passing through a light guide.

2. A curing light as recited in claim 1 wherein L_H is less than about 50% of L_W.

3. A curing light as recited in claim 1 wherein L_H more than about 50% of L_W.

4. A curing light as recited in claim 1 wherein L_H is more than about 60% of L_W.

5. A curing light as recited in claim 1 wherein L_H more than about 70% of L_W.

6. A curing light as recited in claim 1 wherein L_H is more than about 80% of L_W.

7. A curing light as recited in claim 1 wherein L_H more than about 90% of L_W.

8. A curing light as recited in claim 1 wherein L_H is more than about 90% of L_W.

9. A curing light as recited in claim 1 wherein L_H is up to about 100% of L_W.

10. A curing light comprising:

a wand for grasping by a human hand in order to manipulate the curing light, said wand having a longitudinal axis and a length L_W along its longitudinal axis,

controls on said wand for controlling transmission of light from the curing light,

an elongate heat sink located at least partially within said wand, said elongate heat sink having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said elongate heat sink having a length L_H, and

a light emitting semiconductor device mounted at said elongate heat sink distal end, said light emitting semiconductor device having a plurality of epitaxial layers, at least one of said epitaxial layers emitting photons when bombarded by electrons;

wherein light emitted directly forward from said light emitting semiconductor device travels at an angular orientation with said wand longitudinal axis in the range of 30 to 150 degrees, and thence exits the curing light without passing through a light guide.

11. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein L_H is less than about 50% of L_W.

12. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein L_H more than about 50% of L_W.

13. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein L_H is more than about 60% of L_W.

14. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein L_H more than about 70% of L_W.

15. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein L_H is more than about 80% of L_W.

16. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein L_H more than about 90% of L_W.

17. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein L_H is more than about 90% of L_W.

18. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein L_H is up to about 100% of L_W.

19. A curing light as recited in claim 10 wherein said light emitting semiconductor device is selected from the group consisting of light emitting diode chips, laser chips, light emitting diode chip array, diode laser chips, diode laser chip arrays, surface emitting laser chips, edge emitting laser chips, and VCSEL chips.