Light source provided with a housing enclosing voltage regulator means and method of manufacturing thereof

• US 7,253,557 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Issued: 08/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bright Solutions Incorporated (Bright Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Bright Solutions Incorporated (Bright Solutions)
• Inventors: Kalley, Terrence D., Gentit, David, Burke, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Santiago; Mariceli
• Application Number:
  US10/682,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,397 Days
• Field of Search: 445/26, 445/27, 313110-116, 313/634
• US Class Current: 313/318.12
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/04 Resilient mountings, e.g. shock absorbers shock absorbing devices of vehicle headlamp housings B60Q1/0491; in general F16F15/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/15 Thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/228 for radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/38 by using light G01M3/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A light source for testing sites using a fluorescent dye is described. The light source can include a low voltage lamp or a low heat generating lamp.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a light source comprising:

providing a housing having a light outlet and an electrical input port, capable of accepting a variety of lamps;

selecting a lamp from the variety of lamps to fit within the light outlet of the housing;

securing the lamp to the housing using a mounting cap;

supplying a voltage regulator to the housing to regulate a source of electricity to match the lamp wherein supplying a voltage regulator includes providing a voltage step down circuit in the housing, the voltage regulator being electrically connected to the electrical input port; and

providing a switch that reversibly connects the lamp to the source of electricity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the lamp is a low voltage lamp.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the voltage regulator regulates an input voltage from the electrical input source to a voltage between 24 V and 1 V.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the voltage regulator regulates the input voltage to 6 V to 3.5 V.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the lamp includes a light emitting diode.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the lamp includes an array of light emitting diodes.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the lamp is a high color temperature low voltage bulb.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the bulb is a quartz halogen-xenon bulb.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein securing the lamp to the housing using a mounting cap includes inserting a filter between the lamp and the mounting cap.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein supplying a voltage regulator includes:

providing a battery pack within the housing; and

connecting the battery pack to a step down circuit.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the battery pack is a rechargeable battery pack.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the lamp includes a reflector.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the reflector is parabolic.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the reflector is smooth.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the reflector is faceted.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the reflector is dichroic.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the filter is a dichroic filter.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the lamp is a low heat lamp.

19. A light source for examination of a substance which emits light at a wavelength greater than a wavelength of light emitted from the light source when the substance is excited by the wavelength of light emitted from the light source, the light source comprising:

a housing having a light outlet capable of accepting a variety of lamps;

a lamp oriented to emit light through the light outlet, the light source emitting an excitation wavelengths of light; and

a voltage regulator capable of supplying the correct voltage to the variety of lamps wherein the voltage regulator includes a voltage step down circuit in the housing.

20. The light source of claim 19 wherein the lamp emits light of a wavelength within a predetermined range effective to enhance the detection of emission of light from a substance when the substance is excited by the wavelength of light emitted from the light source.

21. The light source of claim 19 wherein the lamp includes a light emitting diode.

22. The light source of claim 19 wherein the lamp is an array of light emitting diodes.

23. The light source of claim 19 wherein the lamp is a quartz halogen-xenon lamp.