Full spectrum LED illuminator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing a light output to an optical guide for illumination of an object to be imaged, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of solid state light-emitting sources each of which are independently powered and independently controlled, each light-emitting source emitting light at a wavelength that is different from a wavelength emitted by the other light-emitting sources;
a heat sink configured to thermally couple the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources and provide conduction of heat generated by the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources; and
optical elements configured to collect, collimate, and combine the emissions from the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources into a combined beam of light to be optically coupled to a light guide at an output of the apparatus,wherein light emitted from each of the light-emitting sources travels an optical path length from the respective light-emitting source to the output, the optical path lengths from the light-emitting sources to the output increasing with the wavelength of the light emitted from the respective light-emitting source from a nearest one of the light-emitting sources relative to the output to a farthest one of the light-emitting sources relative to the output.
19 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for providing a light output to an optical guide for illumination of an imaged object including a plurality of solid state light-emitting sources each of which are independently powered and independently controlled, each light-emitting source emitting light at a wavelength which is different from the wavelength emitted by the other light-emitting sources. The apparatus also includes a heat sink configured to thermally couple the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources and provide conduction of heat generated by the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources. The apparatus further includes an optical elements to collect, collimate, and combine the emissions from the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources into a combined beam of light to be optically coupled to the light guide.
59 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for providing a light output to an optical guide for illumination of an object to be imaged, the apparatus comprising:
-
a plurality of solid state light-emitting sources each of which are independently powered and independently controlled, each light-emitting source emitting light at a wavelength that is different from a wavelength emitted by the other light-emitting sources; a heat sink configured to thermally couple the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources and provide conduction of heat generated by the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources; and optical elements configured to collect, collimate, and combine the emissions from the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources into a combined beam of light to be optically coupled to a light guide at an output of the apparatus, wherein light emitted from each of the light-emitting sources travels an optical path length from the respective light-emitting source to the output, the optical path lengths from the light-emitting sources to the output increasing with the wavelength of the light emitted from the respective light-emitting source from a nearest one of the light-emitting sources relative to the output to a farthest one of the light-emitting sources relative to the output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An apparatus for providing a light output to an optical guide for illumination of an object to be imaged, the apparatus comprising:
-
a plurality of solid state light-emitting sources each of which are independently powered and independently controlled, each light-emitting source emitting light at a wavelength which is different from the wavelength emitted by the other light-emitting sources; a single heat spreader plate having a substantially planar configuration; a heat sink mounted to a first planar surface of said single heat spreader plate to form a common planar arrangement between the heat sink and the single heat plate, said plurality of solid state light-emitting sources mounted to a second planar surface of said single heat spreader plate, the second planar surface being substantially parallel with the first planar surface, the head spreader plate being configured to thermally couple the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources and the heat sink and provide conduction of heat generated by the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources; and optical elements to collect, collimate, and combine the emissions from the plurality of solid state light-emitting sources into a combined beam of light to be optically coupled to the light guide, wherein light emitted from each of the light-emitting sources travels an optical path length from the respective light-emitting source to the output, the optical path lengths from the light-emitting sources to the output varying based on a wavelength of the light emitted from the respective light-emitting source. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
Specification