Use of integrating sphere technology to provide uniform, high-intensity light, and wavelength mixing from light emitting diodes

• US 7,938,643 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical College of Georgia Research Institute Inc (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Medical College of Georgia Research Institute Inc (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Rueggeberg, Frederick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Cris L
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, YOGESH P
• Application Number:
  US12/018,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20080131836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 433215-229, 356/236
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0692 head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 13/082 Cosmetic aspects, e.g. inlays; Determination of the colour A61C19/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/023 by selectively switching fixed light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/045 with spherical surface
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2107/10 for land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0251 Colorimeters making use of an integrating sphere
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/10 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for spectrometry or colorimetry
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/508 measuring the colour of teeth

Abstract

An illumination device including an integrating sphere and at least one light source. The integrating sphere is hollow and houses the at least one light source in it. The light source can be manipulated between a first configuration and a second configuration. The illumination device emits a first spectrum of light when the light source is in the first configuration, and a second spectrum of light when the light source is in the second configuration.

Claims

1. A method for projecting light into an oral cavity comprising:

providing an overhead dental operatory light comprising an integrating sphere that includes an inner reflective surface and an exit aperture, a light source configured to emit light within the integrating sphere, and a lens provided at the exit aperture of the integrating sphere, the light source comprising a plurality of individual light elements, the light elements being configured to emit light at different wavelengths;

activating the light source to emit light through the exit aperture into the oral cavity; and

selectively controlling the intensity of the individual light elements to change the spectrum of light emitted by the light fixture so that the oral cavity can be viewed under visible fight that specifically excludes blue wavelengths that can inadvertently initiate curing of certain materials.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lens of the overhead dental operatory light comprises a collimating, focusing, or diffusive lens.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the individual light elements comprise light emitting diodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the light elements are arranged in groups of light elements, each group being configured to emit a different spectrum of light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the integrating sphere defines a spherical interior space and the light source is positioned within the spherical interior space.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inner reflective surface of the integrating sphere is coated with gold, nickel, cadmium, aluminum, silver, alumina, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, or a combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the spectrums of light emulates natural light.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively controlling the individual light elements so that the oral cavity can be viewed under visible light that includes blue wavelengths.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the visible light emulates incandescent light.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the visible light emulates fluorescent light.