Solid-state light source

• US 7,959,338 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Kazakevich, Yuri
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US12/016,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20080130311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362554-556, 362572-575, 257/79, 257/81, 257/88, 600/160, 600/178, 600/179, 600/181, 600/182, 600/101, 600/108, 385/54, 385/55, 385/117, 374/131
• US Class Current: 362/574
• 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:

a semiconductor light source for emitting light;

a fiber optic element coupled to the semiconductor light source, the semiconductor light source and the fiber optic element in aggregate providing an illumination path, wherein the fiber optic element comprises a fiber optic line having an input at a proximal end for receiving emitted light from the semiconductor light source and an output at a distal end for emitting light through a distal end of the fiber optic element, the output being configured to emit light in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fiber optic line;

a phosphor layer located along the illumination path, wherein the phosphor layer does not contact the semiconductor light source; and

a clear material covering the semiconductor light source, wherein the phosphor layer also does not contact the clear material,

wherein the semiconductor light source includes a light emitting diode configured to emit a non-white light, and wherein the phosphor layer is configured to receive the non-white light and convert the received light to white light.

2. An endoscopic system comprising:

a semiconductor light source for emitting light;

a fiber optic element coupled to the semiconductor light source, the semiconductor light source and the fiber optic element in aggregate providing an illumination path, wherein the fiber optic element comprises a fiber optic line having an input at a proximal end for receiving emitted light from the semiconductor light source and an output at a distal end for emitting light through a distal end of the fiber optic element, the output being configured to emit light in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fiber optic line and in a manner that illuminates an area outside of the endoscopic system;

a phosphor layer located along the illumination path, wherein the phosphor layer is located at the distal end of the fiber optic element and does not contact the semiconductor light source;

a clear material covering the semiconductor light source, wherein the phosphor layer also does not contact the clear material;

a video camera configured to generate video signals representative of images at the illuminated area outside of the endoscopic system; and

a video monitor configured to display the images from the video signals.

3. The endoscopic system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of light sources and a plurality of fiber optic lines.

4. The endoscopic system of claim 3 wherein the plurality of fiber optic lines are in the form of a bundle.

5. The endoscopic system of claim 2 wherein the semiconductor light source includes a light emitting diode.

6. The endoscopic system of claim 2, further comprising a light concentrator having a proximal end positioned at the semiconductor light source, the light concentrator configured to reflect light from a surface of the semiconductor light source.

7. The endoscopic system of claim 6 wherein

the proximal end of the fiber optic line is coupled to a distal end of the light concentrator;

and

the phosphor layer is located distally from the distal end of the light concentrator in a direction away from the semiconductor light source.

8. The endoscopic system of claim 2 wherein the phosphor layer is configured to convert the emitted light from the semiconductor light source to white light.

9. The endoscopic system of claim 2 wherein the semiconductor light source includes a laser diode.

10. The endoscopic system of claim 2 wherein the semiconductor light source includes a vertical cavity surface emission laser.

11. The endoscopic system of claim 2 wherein the semiconductor light source is configured to emit blue light.

12. The endoscopic system of claim 2 wherein the semiconductor light source is configured to emit ultraviolet light.

13. The endoscopic system of claim 2 wherein the distal end of the fiber optic element is configured to be received by an endoscope.

14. The endoscopic system of claim 2, wherein the semiconductor light source includes a light emitting diode configured to emit a non-white light, and wherein the phosphor layer is configured to receive the non-white light and convert the received light to white light.

15. The endoscopic system of claim 14, wherein the distal end of the fiber optic element is configured to be received by an endoscope.

16. The endoscopic system of claim 2, further comprising a lens positioned between the fiber optic element and the semiconductor light source for focusing an image.

17. The endoscopic system of claim 2, further comprising a lens positioned between the fiber optic element and the semiconductor light source for magnifying an image.