Multiple wavelength LED array illuminator for fluorescence microscopy

• US 8,596,815 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2011
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DiCon Fiber Optics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: DiCon Fiber Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: Lee, Jeffrey B., Lu, Junying Jonathan, Schleicher, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANSON JR, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US13/088,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20120262782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.02, 362/311.02, 362/231, 362/233, 362/268, 359/385
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/00 Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters coloured shades F21V1/00; elements characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/502
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/16 adapted for ultraviolet illumination ; Fluorescence microscopes G02B21/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/008 in the form of devices for effecting sequential colour changes, e.g. colour wheels

Abstract

One embodiment provides light along an optical axis. It comprises a substrate and at least one array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging supported by the substrate. The LED chips emit light within different wavelength ranges and are distributed laterally with respect to the axis over an area, the LED chips having light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to the area. An optical element adjacent to the light emitting surfaces of the LED chips in the at least one array collects and directs light emitted by the LED chips of the at least one array along the axis towards a target. Another embodiment is directed to a method for providing multiple wavelength light for fluorescent microscopy using the above system. Electric current is supplied to the multiple LED chips, causing them to emit light of multiple wavelengths. The currents supplied to the multiple LED chips are controlled so as to control the exposure of fluorescent dyes with different excitation wavelengths wherein the light emitted by the multiple LED chips include wavelength components at such different excitation wavelengths without having to move the multiple LED chips.

Claims

1. A multiple wavelength LED array illuminator for providing light along an optical axis, comprising:

a substrate;

at least one array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging supported by said substrate, wherein the LED chips emit light within different wavelength ranges and are distributed laterally with respect to said axis over an area, said LED chips having light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to said area; and

an optical element adjacent to the light emitting surfaces of the LED chips in said at least one array that collects and directs light emitted by the LED chips of the at least one array along said axis towards a target.

2. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the light-emitting area is substantially circular in shape and a diameter of the light-emitting area does not exceed 25 mm.

3. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of the light-emitting area does not exceed 25 mm.

4. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the multiple LED chips are located less than about 15 mm from said axis.

5. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the multiple LED chips are located less than about 10 mm from said axis.

6. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the LED chips emit light within an ultraviolet wavelength range.

7. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a half-ball lens.

8. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising a band pass filter.

9. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising a collector lens for collecting light from the optical element and a lens focusing or collimating light from the collector lens to form a beam directed to the target.

10. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising a device for adjusting distances between the optical element, collector lens and focusing/collimating lens for fluorescent microscopy.

11. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising a diffusing/scattering/homogenizing element and an aperture between the collector lens and focusing/collimating lens.

12. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising a mirror or a light guide for directing the light from the optical element to the target.

13. The illuminator of claim 1, the light guide comprising embedded diffusing elements.

14. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising an electronic control circuit for supplying electric current to the at least one array of multiple LED chips, and at least one interface for receiving computer or user commands for controlling the electric current supplied by the circuit to control light emission by the multiple LED chips.

15. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising a top hat diffuser.

16. A multiple wavelength LED array illuminator for providing light along an optical axis, comprising:

a substrate;

at least one array of multiple LED chips without individual packaging supported by said substrate, wherein the LED chips emit light within different wavelength ranges and are distributed laterally with respect to said axis over an area, said LED chips having light emitting surfaces for emitting light in directions transverse to said area; and

an optical element adjacent to the light emitting surfaces of the LED chips in said at least one array that collects and directs light emitted by the LED chips of the at least one array along said axis towards a target, the at least one array comprising a plurality of subsets of LED chips, the illuminator further comprising a mechanism for moving the substrate relative to the optical element in a lateral direction transverse to the axis, to align one of the plurality of subsets of LED chips in the at least one array with the optical element, based on which subset of the LEDs within the at least one array is to be illuminated.

17. The illuminator of claim 16, the illuminator comprising a plurality of arrays of multiple LED chips supported by said substrate, wherein the mechanism moves the substrate relative to the optical element in order to align one of the plurality of arrays of multiple LED chips with the optical element.

18. The illuminator of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of arrays of multiple LED chips emit light within a wavelength range that is different from those of light emitted by at least one of the remaining arrays.

19. The illuminator of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of arrays of multiple LED chips emit light within a plurality of wavelength ranges that are different from those of light emitted by at least one of the remaining arrays.

20. The illuminator of claim 16, the illuminator comprising a plurality of arrays of multiple LED chips supported by said substrate and a plurality of optical elements, each of the optical elements located adjacent to a corresponding one of the arrays of multiple LED chips, wherein the mechanism moves the substrate relative to the axis in order to align one of the plurality of arrays of multiple LED chips and its corresponding optical element with the axis.

21. The illuminator of claim 20, wherein each of the plurality of arrays of multiple LED chips emit light within a wavelength range that is different from those of light emitted by at least one of the remaining arrays.

22. The illuminator of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of arrays of multiple LED chips emit light within a plurality of wavelength ranges that are different from those of light emitted by at least one of the remaining arrays.