Lighting module and optical fiber lighting device using the same

• US 9,140,839 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Chang, Hsueh-Chih, Hu, Hung-Lieh
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US14/310,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20150016142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00 Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes examination of body cavities or body tracts using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/12; endoscopic instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/04; for surgical purposes A61B17/00; endoscopic surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32; surgical instruments using a laser beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit A61B18/22; Illuminating arrangements therefor for the eyes A61B3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0653 with wavelength conversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298

Abstract

A lighting module comprises a first light source, a second light source and a phosphor element is provided. The first light source emits a first exciting light. The second light source emits a second exciting light. The phosphor element converts the first exciting light and the second exciting light to an emission light. The first exciting light and the second exciting light are input to the phosphor element in different directions of incidence.

Claims

1. A lighting module, comprising:

a first light source for emitting a first exciting light;

a second light source for emitting a second exciting light; and

a phosphor element for converting the first exciting light and the second exciting light to an emission light,

wherein the first exciting light and the second exciting light are input to the phosphor element in different directions of incidence;

wherein the phosphor element has a bottom surface and a top surface opposite to the bottom surface;

wherein the first exciting light is input to the phosphor element through the bottom surface, and the second exciting light is input to the phosphor element through the top surface.

2. The lighting module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a reflecting mask for reflecting the second exciting light to the top surface of the phosphor element.

3. The lighting module according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light guide plate for guiding the second exciting light to the top surface of the phosphor element.

4. The lighting module according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical fiber for receiving the first exciting light, the second exciting light and the emission light, wherein the optical fiber is disposed above the top surface of the phosphor element.

5. The lighting module according to claim 4, wherein a cross section area of the optical fiber is substantial equal to the area of the phosphor element.

6. The lighting module according to claim 4, further comprising:

a lens for guiding the second exciting light to the top surface of the phosphor element and the emission light to the optical fiber.

7. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein a divergent angle of the first light source is larger than that of the second light source.

8. The lighting module according to claim 7, wherein the first light source is a plurality of LEDs, the second light source is at least one LD, and the bottom surface of the phosphor element is attached to the LEDs.

9. The lighting module according to claim 8, wherein a beam pattern of the second exciting light is corresponding to a pitch between the LEDs.

10. The lighting module according to claim 8, wherein the second light source comprises a plurality of LDs, and beam patterns of different LDs are overlapped to each other.

11. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein a beam pattern of the first exciting light is different from that of the second exciting light.

12. The lighting module according to claim 11, wherein a phosphors thickness in the phosphor element is not evenly distributed, the beam pattern of the first exciting light is evenly distributed over the whole phosphor element, and the beam pattern of the second exciting light is distributed over a portion of the phosphor element having higher phosphors thickness.

13. The lighting module according to claim 11, wherein the beam pattern of the second exciting light overlaps that of the first exciting light.

14. An optical fiber lighting device, comprising:

a first light source for emitting a first exciting light;

a second light source for emitting a second exciting light;

a phosphor element for converting the first exciting light and the second exciting light to an emission light, wherein the first exciting light and the second exciting light are input to the phosphor element in different directions of incidence;

an optical fiber for receiving the first exciting light, the second exciting light and the emission light, and the optical fiber is disposed above the phosphor element; and

a mixing chamber for mixing and guiding the first exciting light, the second exciting light and the emission light, and the mixing chamber is disposed between the optical fiber and the phosphor element.

15. A lighting module, comprising:

a first light source for emitting a first exciting light;

a second light source for emitting a second exciting light; and

a phosphor element for converting the first exciting light and the second exciting light to an emission light,

wherein the first exciting light and the second exciting light are input to the phosphor element in different directions of incidence,

wherein the phosphor element has a bottom surface and a lateral surface adjoining the bottom surface, and

wherein the first exciting light is input to the phosphor element through the bottom surface, and the second exciting light is input to the phosphor element through the lateral surface.