# US 12,222,519 B2 · Light engine systems and methods for combining low and high etendue light > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,519 B2 - Document ID: US12222519B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/396,201 - Filed: 2021-08-06 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-07 - Assignees: Stryker Corporation - Applicants: Stryker Corporation - Inventors: Frederick Allen Moore; Robert Anthony Stead; Lesley Myron Otsig - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222519B2 ## CPC - G02B 23/2469: {using optical fibres} - G02B 27/0994: {Fibers, light pipes (optical fibers per se G02B6/02)} - G02B 6/0006: {Coupling light into the fibre (in general G02B6/4298)} - G02B 6/421: {the intermediate optical component consisting of a short length of fibre, e.g. fibre stub} - G02B 27/1073: {characterized by manufacturing or alignment methods} - G02B 27/108: {for sampling a portion of a beam or combining a small beam in a larger one, e.g. wherein the area ratio or power ratio of the divided beams significantly differs from unity, without spectral selectivity} - G03B 21/208: {Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light} - G02B 6/3628: {for mounting fibres to supporting carriers (G02B6/3608, G02B6/3616 take precedence)} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A first light source with a first etendue generates a first light beam to travel along a first optical path having an expanded portion formed by a collector optical system. A second light source having a second etendue less than one tenth of the first etendue forms second light, which is conducted by a light guide having a distal section with an end face. The second light is emitted from the end face as a second light beam that travels over a second optical path that resides within the expanded portion of the first optical path due to the light guide being disposed relative to the first optical path from an off-axis direction. An optical condenser receives and directs the first and second light beams to a common exit plane to form the combined light beam. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light engine for generating a combined light beam, comprising: a) a first light source having an emission surface and a first etendue and configured to emit a diverging first light beam; b) a collector optical system arranged to receive the diverging first light beam and form therefrom an expanded first light beam that travels over a first expanded optical path that includes a periphery; c) a second light source having a second etendue that is less than one tenth of the first etendue and that is configured to form second light; d) a light guide having a proximal end section in optical communication with the first light source and having a distal end section that enters the first expanded optical path through the periphery, the distal end section having an end face, the light guide configured to conduct the second light from the second light source and emit the second light from the end face as a second light beam that travels over a second optical path that resides within the periphery of the first expanded optical path of the first light beam without passing either the second light or the second light beam through an aperture in a light redirecting element; and e) an optical condenser configured to receive and direct the first light beam and the second light beam to a common exit plane to form the combined light beam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the common exit plane comprises an exit aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises an optical fiber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises a prism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises a light pipe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the expanded optical path resides along a first axis and the light guide intersects the first optical path from an off-axis direction relative to the first axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises an optical fiber having a distal fiber section, wherein the end face comprises a fiber end face, and further comprising a support structure that operably supports at least the distal fiber section of the optical fiber so that the fiber end face resides within the first optical path. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The light engine of claim 7, wherein the support structure blocks less than 3% of the first light beam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The light engine of claim 7, wherein the support structure comprises a thin planar support member having a fiber support edge and defining a plane and wherein the optical fiber is supported at or proximate to the fiber support edge and resides within the plane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The light engine of claim 9, wherein the optical fiber has a diameter and wherein the thin planar support member has a width the same as or less than the diameter of the optical fiber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The light engine of claim 7, wherein the support structure maintains a bend in the optical fiber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The light engine of claim 7, wherein the support structure is adjustable to adjust at least one of a position and an orientation of the fiber end face within the first optical path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the fiber end face resides on the first axis and faces the optical condenser. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the second light beam emitted from the end face has a first beam angle and further comprising an optical component that resides at or proximate the end face and that is configured to change the first beam angle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the first and second light beams have respective first and second wavelength bands, and wherein the first and second wavelength bands are non-overlapping. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The light engine of claim 1, wherein the collector optical system and condenser optical system are axially spaced apart by an axial distance AXD, and wherein the end face of the distal section of the light guide resides between the collector optical system and the condenser optical system and is axially spaced apart from the collector optical system by an axial distance of at least 0.25·AXD. ### Claim 17 A light engine for generating a combined light beam, comprising: a) a first light source having a first etendue and an emission surface and configured to introduce a first light beam to travel along at least a first axis and along a first optical path having an expanded portion; b) a second light source having a second etendue that is less than one tenth of the first etendue and that is configured to form second light; c) a light guide having a distal section with an end face and configured to conduct the second light and emit the second light from the end face as a second light beam, wherein the second light beam is introduced to travel over a second optical path that resides within the expanded portion of the first optical path of the first light beam by the light guide being disposed relative to the first optical path and in an off-axis direction relative to the first axis; and d) an optical condenser configured to receive and direct the first light beam and the second light beam to a common exit plane to form the combined light beam.