Curing light instrument

• US 20060269897A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kerr Corporation (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kerr Corporation (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Gill, Owen J., Lachance, Denis J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/003 Apparatus for curing resins by radiation

Abstract

An instrument for curing light-curable compounds that comprises at least one light-emitting element operable for emitting light in a band of wavelengths is capable of curing a light-curable compound. A control circuit controls the operation of the light-emitting element. The control circuit is operable for providing a power signal to the light-emitting element at a steady state power level to drive the element to emit a steady state light output. The control circuit, while continuing with a power signal at the steady state power level, is further operable to provide temporary micro-pulses in the power signal to temporarily provide an increased power level to the light-emitting element above the steady state power level before returning to the steady state power level, to thereby increase the light output of the instrument while controlling heat generated thereby.

Claims

1. An instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprising:

at least one light-emitting element operable for emitting light in a band of wavelengths capable of curing a light-curable compound;

a control circuit for controlling the operation of the light-emitting element, the control circuit operable for providing a power signal to the light-emitting element at a steady state power level to drive the element to emit a steady state light output;

the control circuit, while continuing with a power signal at the steady state power level, further operable to provide temporary micro-pulses in the power signal to temporarily provide an increased power level to the light-emitting element above the steady state power level before returning to the steady state power level;

to thereby increase the light output of the instrument while controlling heat generated thereby.

2. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the micro-pulses are provided periodically during the steady state power level.

3. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the micro-pulses occur approximately every 0.5 to 2.0 seconds during the steady state power level.

4. The instrument of claim 2 wherein the micro-pulses occur approximately every second during the steady state power level.

5. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the micro-pulses have a duration of approximately 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

6. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the micro-pulses have a duration of approximately 0.25 seconds.

7. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the micro-pulses provide an increased power level of the power signal that is approximately 30 percent to 50 percent above the steady state power level.

8. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising an array of a plurality of light-emitting elements.

9. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the light-emitting elements are solid state light-emitting elements.

10. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the control circuit provides the steady state power level and micro-pulses for a cure time in the range of 1 to 30 seconds.

11. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the control circuit provides the power signal by controlling a power supply that generates the power signal.

12. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the light output provided is in the range of 600 W/cm² to 2500 W/cm².

13. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the micro-pulses increase the light output to a level approximately 30 percent to 50 percent above the steady state power level.

14. The instrument of claim 1 wherein there is a duration in the range of approximately 0.5 to 2.0 seconds at the steady state power level between successive micro-pulses.

16. The instrument of claim 1 wherein the micro-pulses are provided periodically during the steady state power level.

17. The instrument of claim 16 wherein the micro-pulses occur approximately every 0.5 to 2.0 seconds during the steady state power level.

26. The instrument of claim 1 wherein there is a duration in the range of approximately 0.5 to 2.0 seconds at the steady state power level between successive micro-pulses.

15. An instrument for curing light-curable compounds comprising:

at least one light-emitting element operable for emitting light in a band of wavelengths capable of curing a light-curable compound;

a control circuit for controlling the operation of the light-emitting element, the control circuit operable for providing a signal at a steady state power signal to the light-emitting element to drive the element to emit a steady state light output and simultaneously providing temporary micro-pulses in the power signal to provide an increased power level above the steady state power level;

to thereby increase the light output of the instrument while controlling heat generated thereby.

18. The instrument of claim 15 wherein the micro-pulses have a duration of approximately 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

19. The instrument of claim 15 wherein the micro-pulses provide an increased power level that is approximately 30 to 50 percent above the steady state power level.

20. The instrument of claim 15 further comprising an array of a plurality of light-emitting elements.

21. The instrument of claim 15 wherein the light-emitting elements are solid state light-emitting elements.

22. The instrument of claim 15 wherein the control circuit provides the steady state power level and micro-pulses for a cure time in the range of 1 to 30 seconds

23. The instrument of claim 15 wherin the control circuit provides the power signal by controlling a power supply that generates the power signal.

24. The instrument of claim 15 wherin the light output provided is in the range of 600 mW/cm² to 2500 mW/cm.

25. The instrument of claim 15, wherein the micro-pulses increase the light output to a level approximately 30 percent to 50 percent above the steady state powere level.

27. A method for curing light-curable compounds comprising:

positioning an amount of a light-curable compound at a cure site;

powering at least one light-emitting element with a steady state power signal for emitting light, at a steady state light output in a band of wavelengths capable of curing the light-curable compound;

while continuing to emit light at the steady state power level, further providing temporary micro-pulses in the power signal to temporarily emit light at an increased power level above the steady state power level;

to thereby increase the light output of the instrument whiel controlling heat generated thereby.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the micro-pulses are provided periodically during the steady state power level.

29. the method of claim 28 further comprising providing the micro-pulses approximately every 0.5 to 2.0 seconds during the steady state power level.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising providing the micro-pulses approximately every second during the steady state power level.

31. The method of claim 27 further compromising providing micro-pulses having a duration of approximately 0.1 to 0.5 seconds.

32. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing micro-pulses having a duration of approximately 0.25 seconds.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein the micro-pulses provide an increased power level that is approximately 30 to 50 percent above the steady state power level.

34. The method of claim 27 further comprising an array of a plurality of light-emitting elements.

35. The method of claim 27 wherein the light-emitting elements are solid state light-emitting elements.

36. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing the steady state power level and micro-pulses for a cure time in the range of 1 to 30 seconds.

37. The method of claim 27 further comprising increasing the light output to a level approximately 30 percent to 50 percent above the steady state power level.

38. The method of claim 27 further comprising providing a light output in the range of 600 mW/cm² to 2500 mW/cm².

39. The method of claim 27 wherein there is a duration in the range of approximately 0.5 to 2.0 seconds at the steady state power level between successive micro-pulses.