Curing light instrument
First Claim
1. An instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprising:
- a housing;
a light emitting structure positioned in the housing and including at least one light emitting die mounted on a substrate;
a lens structure positioned proximate to the die and positioned over the die and at least a portion of the substrate to capture light from the die, the lens structure extending forwardly of the die to refract captured light;
a reflector configured for being positioned with the light emitting structure and configured to capture light emitted from the die, the reflector being a tubular structure having open proximal and distal ends;
the lens structure and die being positioned proximate to the open proximal end of the reflector and the lens structure extending into the tubular reflector structure from the proximal end so the light is refracted into the reflector and directed toward the distal end and onto a light-curable compound;
a light guide operably coupled to the distal end of the reflector, the light guide including a plurality of fiber-optic strands capable of transmitting light along the length of the light guide for transmitting light captured by the reflector onto a light-curable compound.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a handheld portable, efficient instrument for curing light-curable compounds. The instrument comprises a housing, a light emitted structure supported in the housing, and a reflector configured to interface with the light emitting structure such that light emitted is captured and directed by the reflector onto a light-curable compound. The reflector maximizes the amount of light transferred and contacting the light-curable compound thereby reducing the instrument=s power requirements and improving efficiency. The light emitting structure comprises state of the art, energy efficient, light generating dies. The curing light instrument may also have a self-contained power supply lending portability and convenient of use.
314 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprising:
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a housing; a light emitting structure positioned in the housing and including at least one light emitting die mounted on a substrate; a lens structure positioned proximate to the die and positioned over the die and at least a portion of the substrate to capture light from the die, the lens structure extending forwardly of the die to refract captured light; a reflector configured for being positioned with the light emitting structure and configured to capture light emitted from the die, the reflector being a tubular structure having open proximal and distal ends; the lens structure and die being positioned proximate to the open proximal end of the reflector and the lens structure extending into the tubular reflector structure from the proximal end so the light is refracted into the reflector and directed toward the distal end and onto a light-curable compound; a light guide operably coupled to the distal end of the reflector, the light guide including a plurality of fiber-optic strands capable of transmitting light along the length of the light guide for transmitting light captured by the reflector onto a light-curable compound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprising:
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a housing; a light emitting structure comprising a plurality of solid state light emitting dies forming a collective array on a first substrate; a lens structure positioned proximate to the array and positioned over the array of dies to capture light collectively from the dies, the lens structure extending forwardly of the array to refract captured light; a reflector forming a generally tubular passage having open proximal and distal ends, the lens structure and array being positioned proximate the open proximal end and the reflector configured to surround the array of dies with the lens structure extending through the proximal end, the reflector operable to capture and direct light emitted by the array of dies toward the distal end; a light guide operably coupled to the distal end of the reflector, the light guide including a plurality of fiber-optic strands capable of transmitting light along the length of the light guide for transmitting light captured by the reflector onto a light-curable compound. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification