Solid-state light sources for curing and surface modification
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A solid state light source comprising:
- at least three light emitting arrays, each array comprising solid state light emitters which are mounted so that each emitter emits light away from one side of a surface;
at least three optical mixers, each of the at least three optical mixers being symmetrically positioned with respect to at least one pair of the at least three light emitting arrays, reflecting part of the light emitted from one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays and transmitting part of the light emitted from another one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to mix the light from the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to produce mixed light which irradiates a surface; and
a housing comprising an interior curved reflective surface, the housing containing the at least three light emitting arrays and the at least three optical mixers, and including an opening from which the mixed light is emitted and the interior curved reflective surface reflecting at least part of the light emitted from the one side of the arrays toward the surface.
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Abstract
The systems and methods described herein relate to solid-state light sources capable of generating radiation beams for, but not limited to, the treatment of surfaces, bulk materials, films, and coatings. The solid-state ultraviolet source optically combines the light output of at least two and preferably as many four independently controllable discrete solid-state light emitters to produce a light beam that has a controllable multi-wavelength spectrum over a wide range of wavelengths (i.e. deep UV to near-IR). Specific features of this light source permit changes in the spectral, spatial and temporal distribution of light for use in curing, surface modification and other applications.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A solid state light source comprising:
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at least three light emitting arrays, each array comprising solid state light emitters which are mounted so that each emitter emits light away from one side of a surface; at least three optical mixers, each of the at least three optical mixers being symmetrically positioned with respect to at least one pair of the at least three light emitting arrays, reflecting part of the light emitted from one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays and transmitting part of the light emitted from another one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to mix the light from the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to produce mixed light which irradiates a surface; and a housing comprising an interior curved reflective surface, the housing containing the at least three light emitting arrays and the at least three optical mixers, and including an opening from which the mixed light is emitted and the interior curved reflective surface reflecting at least part of the light emitted from the one side of the arrays toward the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A solid state light source comprising:
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at least two light emitting arrays, each array comprising solid state light emitters which are mounted so that each emitter emits light away from one side of a surface; at least one optical mixer, each optical mixer being positioned symmetrically with respect to at least one pair of the arrays, reflecting part of the light emitted from one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays and transmitting part of the light emitted from another one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to mix the light from the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to produce mixed light which irradiates a surface; and a housing comprising an interior curved reflective surface, the housing containing the at least two light emitting arrays and the at least one optical mixer, and including an opening from which the mixed light is emitted and the interior curved reflective surface reflecting at least part of the light emitted from the one side of the arrays toward the surface; wherein the at least one optical mixer comprises a partially reflective mirror which is less than 40% reflective.
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24. A method of irradiating a target surface with a solid state light source including at least three light emitting arrays, each array comprising solid state light emitters which are mounted so that each emitter emits light away from one side of a surface, at least three optical mixers, each optical mixer being positioned symmetrically with respect to at least one pair of the at least three light emitting arrays, reflecting part of the light emitted from one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays and transmitting part of the light emitted from another one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to mix the light from the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to produce mixed light, a housing comprising an interior curved reflective surface, the housing containing the at least three light emitting arrays and the at least three optical mixers and an opening from which the mixed light is emitted and the interior curved reflective surface reflecting at least part of the light emitted from the one side of the arrays to the target surface, the method comprising:
positioning the target surface to be irradiated with the mixed light emitted from the opening. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of irradiating a target surface with a solid state light source including at least two light emitting arrays, each array comprising solid state light emitters which are mounted so that each emitter emits light away from one side of a surface, at least one optical mixer, each optical mixer being positioned symmetrically with respect to at least one pair of the arrays, reflecting part of the light emitted from one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays and transmitting part of the light emitted from another one of the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to mix the light from the at least one pair of symmetrically positioned arrays to produce mixed light, a housing comprising an interior curved reflective surface, the housing containing the at least two light emitting arrays and the at least one optical mixer and an opening from which the mixed light is emitted and the interior curved reflective surface reflecting at least some of the light emitted from the one side of the arrays to the target surface, the method comprising:
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positioning the target surface to be irradiated with the mixed light emitted from the opening; wherein the at least one optical mixer comprises a partially reflective mirror which is less than 40% reflective.
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Specification