Solid-state light source

• US 7,345,312 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2005
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Kazakevich, Yuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Gurley; Lynne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gebremariam; Samuel A
• Application Number:
  US11/141,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20050276553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 600/108, 600/160, 600/178, 600/179, 600/181, 600/182, 257/79, 257/81, 257/88, 385/54, 385/55
• US Class Current: 257/81
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0607 for annular illumination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0669 at proximal end of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/69 Details of refractors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/30 of light guides doped with fluorescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0068 Medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/048 the lens being a simple lens adapted to cooperate with a point-like source for emitting mainly in one direction and having an axis coincident with the main light transmission direction, e.g. convergent or divergent lenses, plano-concave or plano-convex lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0066 specially adapted to cooperate with point like light sources; specially adapted to cooperate with light sources the shape of which is unspecified F21V7/16 - F21V7/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/20 Lighting for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2469 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 : the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/04 : formed by bundles of fibres G02B6/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 : Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2808 : using a mixing element which evenly distributes an input signal over a number of outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/40 : having fibre bundle mating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/403 : of the ferrule type, connecting a pair of ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 : for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 : Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4212 : the intermediate optical element being a coupling medium interposed therebetween, e.g. epoxy resin, refractive index matching material, index grease, matching liquid or gel
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 : the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4248 : Feed-through connections for the hermetical passage of fibres through a package wall see provisionally also G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 : comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 : coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 : Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 : the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details

Abstract

A solid-state light source includes a semiconductor light source for emitting light and an optical system having a fiber optic element. The fiber optic element has an input for receiving emitted light from the semiconductor light source. The fiber optic element also has an output for emitting light received from the solid-state light source. The semiconductor light source and the fiber optic element in aggregate form an illumination path.

Claims

1. A solid-state light source for providing light, the solid-state light source comprising:

one or more semiconductor light sources for emitting light;

a fiber optic element comprising one or more fiber optic lines having inputs for receiving emitted light from the one or more semiconductor light sources and outputs for the emitting light through a distal end of the fiber optic element, the one or more semiconductor light sources, and the fiber optic element in aggregate providing an illumination path; and

a phosphor layer located along the illumination path, beyond the one or more semiconductor light sources, the phosphor layer configured to convert the light generated from the one or more semiconductor light sources to white light.

2. The solid-state light source of claim 1 wherein the one or more fiber optic lines are in the form of a bundle.

3. The solid-state light source of claim 1 wherein the one or more semiconductor light sources include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).

4. The solid-state light source of claim 3 wherein the one or more LEDs include a first LED configured to emit blue light.

5. The solid-state light source of claim 4 wherein the light from the phosphor layer results from an overlap of the blue light with red and green light generated by the phosphor layer.

6. The solid-state light source of claim 1 wherein the phosphor layer does not contact the one or more semiconductor light sources.

7. The solid-state light source of claim 6 wherein the phosphor layer is located at the distal end of the fiber optic element.

8. The solid-state light source of claim 6 wherein the phosphor layer is located between the light-coupling device and the distal end of the fiber optic element.

9. The solid-state light source of claim 6 wherein the phosphor layer is located between the one or more semiconductor light sources and the light-coupling device.

10. The solid-state light source of claim 1 wherein the one or more semiconductor light sources include laser diodes.

11. The solid-state light source of claim 1 wherein the one or more semiconductor light sources include vertical cavity surface emission lasers.

12. The solid-state light source of claim 1 further comprising:

encasements having apertures positioned over the one or more semiconductor light sources;

a semi-transparent medium located within the encasements, wherein the semi-transparent medium has a refractive index that is greater than a refractive index of air; and

wherein the fiber lines are inserted through the apertures and the semi-transparent medium.

13. The solid-state light source of claim 12 wherein the semi-transparent medium is selected from a group consisting of:

silicone, epoxy, and gel.

14. The solid-state light source of claim 1 wherein the one or more semiconductor light sources are configured to emit blue light.

15. The solid-state light source of claim 1 wherein the one or more semiconductor light sources are configured to emit ultraviolet light.

16. The solid-state light source of claim 1, wherein the solid-state light source is configured to be connected to a proximal end of an endoscope including a shaft, and the fiber optic element is configured to extend through the shaft to a distal end of the endoscope.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a light-coupling device coupled to the one or more semiconductor light sources, the light-coupling device configured to receive emitted light from the one or more semiconductor light sources and to pass the emitted light therethrough, wherein the fiber optic element is coupled to the light-coupling device.

18. The solid-state light source of claim 17, wherein the light-coupling device comprises a light concentrator, the concentrator configured to reflect light from at least one surface of the one or more semiconductor light sources.

19. A system comprising:

an endoscope having a distal end and a proximal end;

a solid-state light source located at the proximal end of the endoscope and configured to supply white light to the distal end of the endoscope, the solid-state light source comprising one or more semiconductor light sources for emitting light;

a fiber optic element comprising one or more fiber optic lines having inputs for receiving light from the solid-state light source and outputs for emitting the light through a distal end of the fiber optic element, the one or more semiconductor light sources and the fiber optic element in aggregate providing an illumination path extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the endoscope;

a series of lenses extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the endoscope; and

a phosphor layer located along the illumination path, the phosphor layer configured to convert the light generated from the one or more semiconductor light sources to white light.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the phosphor layer does not contact the one or more semiconductor light sources.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the light generated from the one or more semiconductor light sources comprises blue light.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising a light-coupling device coupled to the one or more semiconductor light sources, the light-coupling device configured to receive emitted light from the one or more semiconductor light sources and to pass the emitted light therethrough, wherein the fiber optic element is coupled to the light-coupling device.