LED light for examinations and procedures

• US 8,872,435 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Midmark Corporation
• Original Assignee: Midmark Corporation
• Inventors: Kreitzer, Melvyn H., Montgomery, Kevin M., Moskovich, Jacob, Rau, Brian D., Treon, Thomas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US13/579,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20130069549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 315/200.R
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/003 for task lighting, e.g. for reading or desk work, e.g. angle poise lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/32 Flexible tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0457 the sensor sensing the operating status of the lighting device, e.g. to detect failure of a light source or to provide feedback to the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/008 Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/20 Lighting for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light

Abstract

A light is provided having a base unit, an arm extending from the base unit, and a lamp head coupled to the arm. The lamp head includes an LED configured to provide light based on an input drive current, an optical mixing element configured to collect the light produced by the LED and a zoom lens configured to adjust an output size of a spot generated by the light collected in the mixing element. A controller receives DC power from the base unit through the arm. The controller is configured to set the input drive current for the LED to control an output light density of the spot in response to an operator selected input and configured to adjust the output light density of the spot in response to a change in the size of the spot.

Claims

1. A light comprising:

(a) a base unit;

(b) an arm extending from the base unit; and

(c) a lamp head coupled to the arm, the lamp head comprising;

(i) an LED configured to provide light based on an input drive current,

(ii) an optical mixing element configured to collect the light produced by the LED,

(iii) a zoom lens element configured to adjust an output size of a spot generated by the light collected in the mixing element,

(iv) a rotary member,

(v) a fixed member, wherein the rotary member is rotatable relative to the fixed member to adjust the linear position of the zoom lens element relative to the LED to thereby adjust the output size of the spot generated by the light collected in the mixing element,

(vi) a sensor configured to sense the angular position of the rotary member relative to the fixed member, and

(vii) a controller receiving DC power from the base unit through the arm, the controller configured to set the input drive current for the LED to control an output light density of the spot in response to an operator selected input,

the controller further configured to adjust the output light density of the spot in response to a signal from the sensor indicating a change in the angular position of the rotary member relative to the fixed member.

2. The light of claim 1, further comprising:

electrical conversion circuitry in the base and operatively coupled with the lamp head;

the electrical conversion circuitry configured to convert electrical power from an AC power source to DC electrical power when the light is coupled with the AC power source.

3. The light of claim 1, further comprising a second lens element, wherein the zoom condition is related to a relative distance between the zoom lens element and the second lens element.

4. The light of claim 3, wherein the second lens element is fixedly secured relative to the fixed member, wherein the rotary member is operable to translate the zoom lens element longitudinally relative to the second lens element and relative to the fixed member.

5. The light of claim 1, wherein the arm comprises:

(i) a first rigid section,

(ii) a second rigid section, and

(iii) a first flexible section, wherein the first flexible section is longitudinally interposed between the first rigid section and the second rigid section.

6. The light of claim 5, wherein the arm further comprises a second flexible section, wherein the first rigid section is longitudinally interposed between the first flexible section and the second flexible section.

7. The light of claim 1, wherein the lamp head further comprises a user input feature operable to selectively activate the LED.

8. The light of claim 1, wherein the optical mixing element comprises a parabolic initial phase.

9. The light of claim 8, wherein the optical mixing element further comprises a cylindrical final stage distal to the parabolic initial phase.

10. The light of claim 1, wherein the LED and the optical mixing element are fixedly secured relative to the fixed member.

11. The light of claim 1, wherein the LED, the optical mixing element, the zoom lens element, and the rotary member are in coaxial alignment.

12. The light of claim 1, wherein the lamp head further comprises a magnet secured to the rotary member.

13. The light of claim 12, wherein the sensor is secured to the fixed member, wherein the sensor is responsive to positioning of the magnet in relation to the sensor to thereby sense the angular position of the rotary member relative to the fixed member.

14. The light of claim 1, wherein the sensor is further configured to sense temperature.

15. A method of operating a light, the method comprising:

(a) determining a drive current level for an LED to obtain a light density output of the light;

(b) adjusting a zoom lens in the light to adjust a spot size of the light, wherein the act of adjusting a zoom lens comprises rotating a rotary element relative to a fixed element;

(c) detecting a change in angular position of the rotary element relative to the fixed element;

(d) calculating a change in the drive current level for the LED based on the detected change in angular position of the rotary element to maintain the light density output; and

(e) driving the LED with the changed drive current.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the zoom lens comprises first and second lens elements and wherein adjusting the zoom lens comprises adjusting a relative distance between the first and second lens elements.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

detecting the relative distance between the first and second lens elements.

18. A light comprising:

(a) a base unit;

(b) an arm extending from the base unit; and

(c) a lamp head coupled to the arm, the lamp head comprising;

(i) a light source configured to provide light based on an input drive current,

(ii) a zoom lens element configured to adjust an output size of a spot generated by light emitted from the light source,

(iii) a rotary member,

(iv) a fixed member, wherein the rotary member is rotatable relative to the fixed member to adjust the linear position of the zoom lens element relative to the light source to thereby adjust the output size of the spot generated by the light emitted from the light source,

(vi) a sensor configured to sense the angular position of the rotary member relative to the fixed member, and

(vii) a controller configured to set an input drive current for the light source to control an output light density of the spot, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the output light density of the spot in response to a signal from the sensor indicating a change in the angular position of the rotary member relative to the fixed member.

19. The light of claim 18, wherein the light source comprises an LED, wherein the lamp head further comprises an optical mixing element configured to collect the light produced by the LED.