Light generating apparatus for curing dental restorative composites
AssigneeSolid State Systems, Inc.
InventorsRonald L. Bussiere, Robert J. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for photochemically curing organic composites used to repair teeth includes a quartz halogen lamp (12) which is activated for a particular length of time by a cycle control circuit (42) which produces a control signal for a preselected time interval. A switching circuit (38) is coupled with the cycle control circuit (42) to interconnect an alternating current source with the quartz halogen lamp (12) at a point in the alternating current cycle when the alternating current crosses a zero voltage level. The control circuit (42) is operably coupled to a time delay circuit (40) which activates the control circuit (42) after a preselected time period after activation of the control circuit (40).
Claims22
An apparatus for interconnecting an alternating current source with light generating means for a time cycle beginning after an initial dwell time, comprising:
- (a) time delay means;
- (b) cycle control means operatively coupled to said time delay means, said cycle control means being activated for a preselected time interval after activation of said time delay means;
- and
- (c) switch means coupled with said cycle control means and interconnected between the alternating current source and the light generating means, said switch means:
- in response to the activation of said cycle control means, interconnecting the alternating current source with the light generating means when the alternating current source crosses a zero voltage point in the alternating current cycle;
- and
- in response to the deactivation of said cycle control means, disconnecting the alternating current source from the light generating means.
An apparatus for photochemically curing organic composites used to repair teeth, comprising:
- (a) light generating means;
- (b) means for applying the light produced by said light generating means on the organic composites;
- (c) time delay means for producing an output signal at a preselected time period after activation of said time delay means;
- (d) cycle control means operably coupled to said time delay means to produce a control signal for a preselected time interval in response to said output signal;
- and
- (e) switch means coupled with said cycle control means and interconnected between an alternating current source and said light generating means, said switch means:
- in response to said control signal, interconnecting the alternating current source with said light generating means at the point in the alternating current cycle when the alternating current crosses a zero voltage level;
- and
- upon termination of said control signal, disconnecting the alternating current source from said light generating means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.