LED curing apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A radiation curing apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of solid state radiation sources to generate radiation that cures a first material;
a plurality of optical concentrators, wherein each concentrator receives radiation from a corresponding one of said solid state radiation sources;
a plurality of optical waveguides, wherein each of the plurality of optical waveguides includes a first end and a second end, wherein each first end receives concentrated radiation from a corresponding concentrator;
a support structure to stabilize the plurality of optical waveguides between the first and second ends;
an interconnect circuit layer to provide electrical connection to the plurality of solid state radiation sources, the interconnect circuit layer comprising a dielectric top layer between each solid state radiation source, an electrically conductive adhesive between the solid state radiation source and a conductive layer that carries electrical current to the solid state radiation source, and a substrate layer beneath the conductive layer;
a heat exchange unit; and
a thermally conductive material to thermally couple the substrate layer of the interconnect circuit layer to the heat exchange unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiation curing apparatus comprises a plurality of solid state radiation sources to generate radiation that cures a first material. The solid state radiation sources can be disposed in an array pattern. Optical concentrators, arranged in a corresponding array pattern, receive radiation from corresponding solid state radiation sources. The concentrated radiation is received by a plurality of optical waveguides, also arranged in a corresponding array pattern. Each optical waveguide includes a first end to receive the radiation and a second end to output the radiation. The curing apparatus can be utilized for continuous substrate, sheet, piece part, spot curing, and/or 3D radiation-cure processes.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A radiation curing apparatus, comprising:
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a plurality of solid state radiation sources to generate radiation that cures a first material; a plurality of optical concentrators, wherein each concentrator receives radiation from a corresponding one of said solid state radiation sources; a plurality of optical waveguides, wherein each of the plurality of optical waveguides includes a first end and a second end, wherein each first end receives concentrated radiation from a corresponding concentrator; a support structure to stabilize the plurality of optical waveguides between the first and second ends; an interconnect circuit layer to provide electrical connection to the plurality of solid state radiation sources, the interconnect circuit layer comprising a dielectric top layer between each solid state radiation source, an electrically conductive adhesive between the solid state radiation source and a conductive layer that carries electrical current to the solid state radiation source, and a substrate layer beneath the conductive layer; a heat exchange unit; and a thermally conductive material to thermally couple the substrate layer of the interconnect circuit layer to the heat exchange unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A radiation curing system, comprising:
a solid state ultraviolet radiation source, comprising a plurality of LED dies to generate ultraviolet radiation that cures a radiation curable chemical formulation; a plurality of optical concentrators within a concentrator array body, wherein each concentrator receives ultraviolet radiation from a corresponding one of said LED dies and wherein the concentrator array body has a depression where each optical concentrator is located; a plurality of optical fibers within a fiber array connector, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers includes a first end and a second end, wherein each first end receives concentrated ultraviolet radiation from a corresponding concentrator and wherein the fiber array connector includes a protrusion where each first end is located and wherein the protrusion of the fiber array connector is seated within the depression of the concentrator array body such that each concentrator is aligned with each fiber end; and a substrate to support the radiation-curable chemical formulation. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of curing a radiation curable chemical formulation, comprising:
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providing a solid state radiation source that includes a plurality of LED dies to generate curing radiation and being mounted on an interconnect circuit layer having at least two alignment holes, a plurality of optical concentrators within an optical concentrator array body having at least two alignment holes in alignment with the at least two alignment holes of the interconnect circuit layer, wherein each concentrator receives curing radiation from a corresponding one of said LED dies, a plurality of optical fibers, wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers includes a first end and a second end, wherein each first end is located within a fiber array connector having at least two alignment holes in alignment with the at least two alignment holes of the optical concentrator array body and wherein each first end receives concentrated curing radiation from a corresponding concentrator, and at least two alignment pins disposed within the at least two alignment holes of the interconnect circuit layer, the optical concentrator body, and the fiber array connector; and exposing the radiation-curable chemical formulation to the curing radiation, wherein a substrate supports the radiation-curable chemical formulation. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification